Getting out into the terrain is tempting this time of year - but there's a lot more terrain on the surface than usual! Rugged conditions like this really raise the stakes of a small avalanche.
Small wind slabs may be perched in the lee of ridgecrests as a result of strong northeast winds acting on a recent 10-20 cm of loose snow on the surface.
Small natural avalanches ran during the overnight period on Nov 22 in the Whistler area. A small cornice tab release was also observed to have triggered a small loose snow avalanche.
Explosives control coaxed another small wind slab from steep terrain the following morning.
Looking forward, lingering small wind slabs are the main concern over the next few days. Their reactivity should gradually diminish over the same time frame.
Depending on aspect and elevation, either a new crust or a new layer of surface hoar can be found on 10-20 cm of faceting low density snow. In exposed areas you are more likely to find wind-stripped surfaces and small pockets of stubborn wind slab in leeward terrain.
This most recent snow sits on a melt-freeze crust that was buried on November 21. Below this, firmer snow and additional crusts with well-bonded snow may be found in the top 30-50 cm of the snowpack.
Sliding travel starts at roughly 1600 m. Above this, snowpack height ranges from 50-100 cm, increasing with elevation and deepest on the west side of Hwy 99. The base of the snowpack is well consolidated and bonded to the ground and glacial ice.
Friday Night
Clear skies. Alpine wind north 10-20 km/h, easing.
Saturday
Clear skies. Alpine wind north 10-20 km/h. Treeline high temperature 3°C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Sunday
Clear skies. Alpine wind west 10-15 km/h. Treeline high temperature 3°C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Monday
Clear skies. Alpine wind west 10-15 km/h. Treeline high temperature 3°C. Freezing level 3200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
