Babine
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 28th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 27th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 26th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 25th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 24th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 24th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 23rd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 22nd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 21st, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 20th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 19th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 18th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 17th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 16th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 15th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 14th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 13th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 12th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 11th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 10th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 9th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 8th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 7th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 6th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 5th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 4th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 3rd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 2nd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 1st, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Feb 28th, 2025still winter at the onion
<p>Today we rode at the Onion. There was 10 cm of new snow that has improved riding quality. Sunny slopes are crusty while shady slopes are still holding cold snow. We dug on an east aspect at 1700m and found the March 31st melt freeze crust down 40 cm. During compression tests we were able to produce easy sudden planar results failing on size 2-3 facets above the March 31st melt freeze crust. We also did an extended column test and were able to get moderate propagating results on the March 31st melt freeze crust. We observed no new avalanches. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Friday 21st April, 2023 3:00PM
Natural slab @ Seaton
<p>Today we sledded at Seaton Basin. We had mostly sunny skies and a light westerly breeze.
We saw one size 2.5 avalanche that occurred naturally, probably 24-48 hours ago. This avalanche happened on an east-northeast facing slope in the alpine, at 1850m.
We found significant wind effect in the surface snow from the weekends’ storm. There is about 40 cm of wind-stiffened snow over the melt-freeze crust from late March. We suspect the natural avalanche failed at this interface.
We dug on an east aspect at 1650m and found 250 cm total snow depth. We did not get any propagating test results at the melt-freeze crust interface, but it’s one we will be monitoring. The results were non-propagating ECT results, ECTN30 down 25 cm on a density change within the wind effected new snow, and ETCN30 down 40 cm at the crust interface.
We had good sledding in sheltered areas at treeline. The alpine is wind affected on all aspects. At the end of the day the surface snow was becoming moist at lower elevations. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Wednesday 12th April, 2023 4:40PM
Seaton
<p>Went to Seaton with several north aspect goals. When we got to the bowl we observed several avalanches in surprising locations that occurred in the last 12 hours (see photos). That, combined with substantial wind transport, caused us to choose conservative terrain. Over the course of the day we observed several new wind/cornice avalanches, confirming our terrain choices. </p>
H.Badger,
Saturday 8th April, 2023 4:10PM
April Onions
<p>Today we rode at the Onion. There has been 30 cm of snow in the past 48 hours that has improved riding quality greatly! This is the first significant snowfall in quite some time and the new snow seems to be bonding well to the previous surface. We did not venture into the alpine today as the visibility was poor but sheltered trees were providing the best riding quality. We suspect formation of wind slabs in the alpine. Temperatures were around - 1 for most of the day with light to moderate snowfall. We observed no new avalanches.</p>
AvCan Northwest,
Thursday 6th April, 2023 1:30PM
Buckle Deep
<p>Today we sled-skied in the Blunt Range. We had clear skies with a light westerly breeze at ridgecrest. Alpine temperatures are still below freezing.
We skied a west facing slope and found good skiing conditions with 5 - 10 cm of cold snow over firm older surfaces, all the way down into the trees at 1300m.
We didn't see any new avalanches. Cornices are large right now so we made sure to avoid these, travelling well back from ridgelines and not travelling underneath slopes with overhead cornice hazard. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Tuesday 4th April, 2023 4:30PM
Cuppa Joe, iced today thanks
<p>Today we went to Little Joe and enjoyed a warm, bluebird day. There was a light southerly breeze.
Sunny slopes have seen warming and sun affect over the past week.
We saw several size 1 loose wet avalanches from steep, rocky, sunny slopes.
We found a melt-freeze crust at the surface on these sunny slopes which was supportive to skis. The top couple of centimeters softened by midday and made for good corn skiing.
At treeline and above there are still a few areas where cold snow remains, these are sheltered, shady slopes. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Tuesday 28th March, 2023 3:40PM
Danger Dave’s Bag of Tricks includes a Density kit
<p>Today we sledded at Seaton Basin. We had partly sunny skies with light southwesterly winds.
We saw several new size 1-1.5 loose dry avalanches from steep alpine features. We didn’t see any other new avalanches. We saw one older size 2 wind slab from a steep, rocky, alpine northeast facing slope. The avalanche may have occurred in the last storm cycle.
We dug on a north facing slope at 1600 m and found 180 cm total snow depth. There are several crusts in the middle and lower snowpack, but we got no significant test results at all. We did multiple Extended Column Tests with no results. There is 70 cm of faceted snow near the ground which we are monitoring.
At the surface there is 10 cm of powder snow, or some areas that are wind affected from previous moderate northwesterly and southwesterly winds.
</p>
AvCan Northwest,
Tuesday 14th March, 2023 5:00PM
Just stay home and eat onions
<p>Today we rode at the Onion. Widespread wind effect on all aspects at treeline and above made for difficult riding conditions. Moderate to strong winds from the south east were redistributing the new snow from last night, forming hard wind slab at tree line and above. Sheltered areas below treeline still held some non wind effected snow but the hard surface beneath the new snow made riding challenging. Cornices are large in the Babine range right now and are still growing with this new snow and wind. We observed no new avalanches today. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Wednesday 8th March, 2023 2:10PM
The Harold Price is wrong
<p>Today we rode at Harold Price. The recent snow and cold temps have been preserving snow in sheltered areas and making for great riding conditions at tree line and below. We ventured into the alpine and found hard wind slab on all aspects, although some sheltered places provided good riding quality. The recent wind and new snow have formed massive cornices as you will see in the attached photos. these cornices have been failing and producing avalanches on the slopes below them. We observed a size 2.5 and two size 1.5 avalanches on a north east slope at 1700m that were all triggered by cornice fall. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Friday 3rd March, 2023 4:30PM
Outflowing Onion
<p>Today we rode the Onion Snowmobile area. Last weeks outflow winds were not kind to the snowpack. Even the 20 cm of recent storm snow couldn't cover up the widespread wind waves and hard surfaces. There was even some cornice formation noted on SW aspects from all the outflow winds. Cornices due to conventional wind direction(from the SW), are looking large these days and we are almost into March when they could start to fail due to daytime warming and solar input.
We dug at 1755 m on a SW aspect, the total snow depth was 155 cm. We found multiple layers of old windslab with one layer failing down 40 cm over small facets. Where we dug the base of the snowpack is comprised of 50cm facets(3mm). We're watching out for overhead hazards and avoiding steep shallow rocky start zones. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Tuesday 28th February, 2023 4:10PM
I'll take a front row Seaton to that riding
<p>It was a cold, clear, sunny day up at Mount Seaton today. The trail in to the meadow is in good condition, with not too large of whoops. As we got into the meadows, we found there was evidence of wind effect that had filled the previous sledders tracks, but the snow was still quite soft for riding. When we headed further up into the bowl, we saw multiple large wind slab avalanches (size 2-2.5) that appeared to be 72 hours old on all aspects in the alpine. While there was still excellent riding to be found in sheltered areas, we stayed out of the exposed treeline and alpine due to the likelihood of wind slabs still existing and the likely poor riding conditions from the wind effected and stiff snow. In our snowpack tests in a relatively sheltered area just above the meadow we did not find any results. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Thursday 23rd February, 2023 4:10PM
BYO Snorkel
<p>Today we went sledding at Seaton Basin. It was deeeeeeeep. We saw 2 size 2 storm slab avalanches at treeline on North and Northeast facing slopes. These avalanches were 50 - 80 cm deep.
We also saw cracking 30 cm deep in front of our feet when we stepped off the sleds on a small test slope at treeline.
There is up to 80 cm of new snow over the Jan 25 rain crust.
We avoided avalanche terrain today and made sure to stay within sight as we wanted to avoid triggering storm slab avalanches, as well as other hazards like snow immersion and treewells.
We dug on a north facing slope at 1400m and found 30 cm of storm slab that failed very easily in a Compression Test (while cutting out the column). The block also failed 55 cm deep on another storm layer with easy taps (CT E 9 RP down 55 cm).
Sleds were penetrating 80 - 100 cm into all the new snow and boot penetration was about 50 cm.
There was continued snow throughout the day, light southerly winds and poor visibility. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Thursday 9th February, 2023 4:40PM
Tour de Dome
<p>
Today we went into the Babine Mountains, sledding at the Dome. We didn’t see any new avalanches, but we didn’t see much with new snow falling all day. Today wasn’t windy but we did find evidence of previous southwesterly winds.
In total, there is 15-20 cm of new snow sitting on the January 25 rain crust. This is significantly less than what we were finding the rest of the week throughout the Smithers area, where there is up to 40 cm of new snow.
In a snow pit at 1550 m on a southeast facing slope we found 135 cm total snow depth. We were able to produce propagating results with moderate loads 40 cm deep on a layer of buried surface hoar (ECT P 11 down 40 cm on 7-10 mm surface hoar crystals).
Riding quality was good in the meadows with the firm surface still felt underneath in some places. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Friday 3rd February, 2023 5:30PM
Getting stuck at seaton
<p>Fun day learning how the dang thing works! (Snowmobile)
Snow felt bottomless while riding, boot pen was about knee deep (60cm) when jumping off the sled.
With the forecast conditions, low vis and my entry level snowmobiling skills we opted to play around in the meadows.
Was storming all day long.</p>
j.m.casat,
Friday 3rd February, 2023 3:20PM
New snow at Seaton
<p>Today we rode at Seaton. There was up 30 cm of new snow over the rain crust from the warm weather last week. The rain crust was unsupportive to snowmobiles and we could barely feel it while riding. We dug on North West and East facing aspects. In both pits we were able to produce easy results on the Jan 5th layer down 35cm's. We were able to produce one size 1 avalanche by walking over a 35 degree slope. Other than this we did not notice any other recent avalanches but the visibility was poor. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Tuesday 31st January, 2023 5:00PM
Simple Seaton
<p>Today we went sledding at Seaton Basin. We saw no new avalanches, but visibility into the alpine was poor. At treeline, we found 200 cm of snow on a northeast facing slope. We dug on this slope and were able to produce propagating Extended Column Test (ECT) results 50 cm deep.
Moderate southerly winds were transporting snow at ridgecrest and forming new wind slabs.</p>
AvCan Northwest,
Tuesday 24th January, 2023 5:00PM
Dome Sledding Area
<p>Observered lots of shooting cracks in windloaded southern aspects as well as one snowmobiler trigger slide.</p>
Clayton Chamberlain,
Tuesday 24th January, 2023 12:50PM
4 Lakes
<p>4 Lakes avalanche released on depth hoar. 1.5 Remotely triggered from the gently sloping terrain at the bottom of the weird gully feature at 4 Lakes. </p>
Angle Parking,
Sunday 22nd January, 2023 9:40PM
Little Joe lakes South aspect couloir slide
<p>Group of three skiing up Little Joe Lakes valley. I triggered a size 2 avalanche on a South East facing aspect halfway down a couloir off one of the flanks of Mt Hyland dropping in just down valley of Little Joe Lakes. The initial triggered slab slid down and triggered another slab which triggered another further down slope. The crown was altogether ~160 meters across and mostly ~5-10cm deep with a few more windloaded spots of ~25-35cm deep. I was deliberately skiing to a "safe spot" in the couloir when the slope beneath me ripped out triggering two other slopes skiier's right and downslope of me. I am grateful to ski away from this and feel a strong reminder to always be cognizant of windloading and potential storm slabs in all terrain.</p>
haroldschaefer,
Wednesday 18th January, 2023 8:40PM
Shallow at 9 mile
<p>Today we found a thin, weak snowpack at 9 mile. We Dug at 1500m and had 120cm's of snow. The Jan 5th surface hoar/ facet layer was down 20 cm's from the snow surface. We observed small surface hoar and facets on this layer but produced no results during compression tests. The Dec 23rd surface hoar/facet layer was down 55cm's. Below this size 3-5mm facets dominated the bottom of the snowpack. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Sunday 15th January, 2023 4:20PM
Dome Saturday ridding
<p>Rode the Dome, conditions were nice in the back meadows. 5-10cm of new snow in places, not a ton of wind effect, no signs of new avalanches, but didn't spend any time in the alpine, observed it from far. Afternoon warming about zero, lots of snow falling off of the trees, fog forming on the lakes, and swamps. It was very mild in the afternoon.</p>
Jim Simonelli,
Sunday 15th January, 2023 11:50AM
Dome Saturday ridding
<p>Rode the Dome, conditions were nice in the back meadows. 5-10cm of new snow in places, not a ton of wind effect, no signs of new avalanches, but didn't spend any time in the alpine, observed it from far. Afternoon warming about zero, lots of snow falling off of the trees, fog forming on the lakes, and swamps. It was very mild in the afternoon.</p>
Jim Simonelli,
Sunday 15th January, 2023 11:30AM
Size 1 Remote Trigger - Touchy
Jono_Doherty,
Saturday 14th January, 2023 5:40PM
No wind at Seaton Basin
<p>We didn't observe the forecast strong winds or any wind transport around treeline but poor visibility in the alpine kept us below 1500 m.
10-15 cm of evenly distributed, unconsolidated new and recent snow sits over a layer of surface hoar. This layer did not produce any signs of instability nor significant results in snowpack tests due to a lack of slab character in overlying snow. We found Dec 23 SH/FC buried 40-50 cm deep, rounding and non-reactive in snowpack tests.
We got pretty close to the avalanche debris reported here from the other day but it was obscured by a blanket of new snow and the poor visibility.</p>
ahanna,
Thursday 12th January, 2023 4:30PM
Seaton South Ridge
<p>Dry loose avalanche on north aspect within 24 hours. 5-10cm fresh snow over yesterdays tracks with moderate transport on alpine ridge</p>
HankMoody,
Sunday 8th January, 2023 4:40PM
North East winds outta nowhere
<p>Today we rode at the Dome and the Onion. We were surprised to find that strong north east winds had created large drifts below tree line. As we rode to higher elevations, we began to notice that fresh windslabs had formed from the recent moderate to strong north east winds. We traveled further and came across a size 2 avalanche that we believe was caused but the recent rapid wind loading.
During testing we had very easy propagating results in an extend column test and very easy results in a compression test down 20cm on surface hoar size 7-10mm
</p>
AvCan Northwest,
Thursday 5th January, 2023 4:00PM
Tree line canyon ck
<p>Meadow skipping day at canyon Creek. Quick snow profile at 1550m in a wetland showed unsurprisingly (Babine mountains being a continental snowpack and in sheltered cold air drainage wetlands) a 1.2m total depth with 20cm of basal depth hoar to 5mm, and prominent buried surface hoar layers at 50 cm, 80cm (Dec 23 surface) and 115 cm. Everything below the Dec 23 surface was very faceted. </p>
trowbridge.a.s,
Monday 2nd January, 2023 3:10PM
Astlais
<p>Skiing was firm but good once above the rain crust which extended up to 1,300m in this area. </p>
HankMoody,
Sunday 1st January, 2023 3:50PM
Sweet, Sweet Seaton
<p>Today at Seaton there were a couple of size 2 avalanches that released in the past 24 hours out of steep terrain. We also observed numerous size 2 avalanches that releases in the past 72 hours. Moderate SW winds in the alpine continue to build windslab over our Dec 23rd weak layer. During testing we observed moderate compression test results down 40 cm on the Dec 23 interface </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Wednesday 28th December, 2022 4:30PM
Onion Meadow & Trees
<p>The side of the trail in slide mid afternoon where it was unsupported to about 15-20' above the trail and 30-40' across. Riding was great, there was a top wet layer a few centimeters thick and dry powder below it. </p>
HankMoody,
Tuesday 27th December, 2022 1:40PM
Make hay when the sun shines Make MINs when the wind blows
<p>Today we went sledding at Seaton Basin. The wind has effected both alpine and treeline slopes. At ridgecrest, many areas are stripped back to rock. There is evidence of wind from all directions with reverse and cross loading patterns.
Today, winds were moderate to strong from the NW and were transporting remaining snow.
We saw one older size 2 wind slab avalanche on a SE aspect at 1900m from steep rock bands, but otherwise no new avalanche activity.
We dug on a SE aspect at 1700m and found 35cm of wind slab overlying older, softer snow. The slab failed easily during a Compression Test (CT) (CT E 3 RP down 35cm). We did not find any layers of note deeper in the snowpack. Total snow depth here was 200cm, but this is highly variable.
The day was windy but warm, with an inversion producing 0 degree temps around 1500m. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Thursday 15th December, 2022 3:20PM
Harold Priceless
<p>Today we went sledding at Harold Price. We found amazing powder in all the sheltered meadows. We didn’t see any new avalanches or signs of instability (like cracking or whumpfing).
At treeline there is 50cm+ of unconsolidated snow available for transport. In the alpine, there is some previous wind affect at the surface, but in general about 20cm of soft snow at the surface available for transport. We didn’t find any layers of note within the snowpack. The total height of snow is variable but about 100cm at treeline.
</p>
AvCan Northwest,
Tuesday 13th December, 2022 4:40PM
Hoth?
<p>Today we went to The Onion. It was partly cloudy with moderate S winds in the alpine. We didn't see any new avalanches or any signs of instability.
Both the alpine and treeline in this area are highly wind affected from variable wind directions. There are many exposed rocks, grasses and creek holes.
We dug on a S facing slope at 1650m and found a stiff 15 cm thick wind slab at the surface. The slab failed easily in compression tests (CT). The slab is supportive to both boots and skis. </p>
forecaster,
Thursday 8th December, 2022 4:00PM
Go Pro take Seaton photo
<p>Today we rode in Seaton basin meadows, riding quality was excellent at treeline. We observed the alpine and saw no new avalanches but strong to extreme winds over the previous days have scoured alpine slopes. Today there were light winds through the day and trace amounts of precip
We dug a snow pit at 1500M on a SE aspect. A layer of small facets down 30 cm was producing Moderate to Hard sudden planner results in compression tests, but was not propagating during extended column tests. We will be keeping track of this facet layer but are not overly concerned for the time being. </p>
AvCan Northwest,
Wednesday 7th December, 2022 4:40PM
Seaton Ridge
<p>Skiing was good in sheltered snow, crust on wind effected slopes. 0-10cm ski penetration. Came across a number of glide cracks which don't appear to be too old. 3-4 crowns on steep east facing slows which appeared to be a couple days old with just a light dust on a debris fields. </p>
HankMoody,
Sunday 4th December, 2022 6:40PM
Onion Early Season
<p>Saw MIN report of King Louis, we did not see signs of avalanches in the Onion area of the Babines. </p>
HankMoody,
Monday 28th November, 2022 9:30AM
Seaton summer trail
r.richardson.duffy,
Sunday 20th November, 2022 9:30AM