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Backcountry Avalanche Advisory

As of Wednesday, Feb. 10,

*Note that 'Backcountry' refers to any areas outside the ski area boundary.

Alpine: Considerable Thursday, High Friday

Treeline: Considerable through Friday

Below Treeline: Considerable through Friday

Travel Advisory: There are areas of windslab up to 20cm in the alpine. Cornices are large and still have the potential to fail. Stay well back from the edge and leave a wide safety margin if you need to travel below them. Surface hoar of 1-5 mm may still be present and will become buried over the next few days.

Avalanche Activity: Solar aspects have been warming up and moist snow avalanches have been reported up to size 2. There is also plenty of evidence of fresh cornice failures.

Snowpack: We have seen some resistant shears in the upper 20 cm that are running on old surface hoar. These shears sit above a strong coastal snowpack but may be tested with the additional snow load forecasted for the next few days. A melt-freeze crust can be felt on solar aspects and everywhere below 1,400 metres. A cold overnight period left us with 1-5 mm surface hoar and may be an issue when we receive new snow.

Weather: A series of Pacific fronts will bring heavy precipitation, rising freezing levels and strong winds to the south coast through the weekend.

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