Biblical Breeze at Cain

AvCan Vancouver Island , Friday 21st February, 2025 4:15PM

It was a wee gusty today in the backcountry near Mt Cain. Below 1300 m it was raining and the snow surface was wet. Above this elevation, 10 cm of heavy new snow has fallen on a newly buried crust. On the windward side this new snow has been swept away by extreme south winds and scoured down to the crust. On lee aspects, up to 30 cm of stiff wind redistributed snow can be found. We remotely triggered a size 2 wind slab while poking around at ridge crest in West bowl. 1550 m elevation, NW aspect, 30 cm crown, 30 m wide, 35°, ran mid path on an old surface. The persistent slab problem is still on our minds, it can be found ~50 cm below the surface. We were able to produce hard sudden results in snowpack tests. Skiing was challenging due to changing surface conditions and poor vis.