As of Wednesday,
April 2, 2008
Alpine
: Moderate
Treeline
: Low
Below Treeline
: Low
Travel Advisory
: Flurries have continued to add to the low density
surface layers sitting over various old surfaces including isolated areas of
windslab. Keep in mind that a soft slab in motion may have the potential to
trigger a deeper release within the underlying storm snow layers in some
isolated areas. Given the available loose surface snow, any sustained periods
of sunshine on solar aspects will rapidly produce sluffing that could entrain
large amounts of snow before coming to a halt. As always, cornices have been
quite reactive, so stay well back from the edges.
Avalanche Activity
: The cold, loose new snow sluffs with skiing although it
has not been entraining. Solar aspects have also been sluffing when the sun
pokes out. There have been isolated reports of avalanches being triggered on
the March 10 crust that is anywhere from 60-100cm below the surface.
Snowpack
: The low density snow that we have been receiving in the
alpine is settling, although there are areas of windslab in the alpine.
There are several weak melt-freeze crusts in the upper 30cm of the snowpack on
direct solar aspects. The March 10th raincrust is now buried up to 1 metre deep
on some lee slopes in the alpine, but still lurks on the surface in any wind
scoured terrain.
Weather
: Mostly sunny for the next few days with seasonal
temperatures expected.
Travel with a partner and be
equipped and prepared for self-rescue. Watch out for winch-cats or snowmobile
traffic if you re-enter the area after operating hours.
– Blackcomb Snow Safety