Blue River

Sunny, mild, calm, and chewed up snow was the story today. We saw a few week+ old avalanches near ridgelines but nothing recent, with tons of slope testers from skiers and snowmobiles.

We ride the fingers in blue River, below 1500m was pretty wet, raining around 1100 and below. Snow was wet until 1500m. Noticeable crust about 30 cm. Down forming that persistent slab problem. We sled cut a small slip, Northeast facing, and got some shooting cracks but nothing slid. On a similar slope near the top we heard one whumpf. We stayed away from pretty much anything above tree line.

We were fortunate to have a bit of sun to help us see though we were often blinded by face shots! We saw no new avalanches today and didn't get any significant results in our snowpack tests. We took advantage of the good snow and ok visibility to ride open alpine slopes. This allowed us to avoid riding the lower elevations where a crust has formed up to 1700m. We avoided riding on slopes below cornices where wind deposited snow could still potentially be triggered by sleds.

Natural slab avalanche we came across early afternoon.

Join up with our local RCMP to do a quick widlife boundary/signage inspection in the Chappell Creek area today. 15cm over very low density snow over lies a variety of old surfaces such as windslabs in open areas or surface hoar and faceted snow in the sheltered zones. 290cm snowpack on a sheltered alpine aspect at 2100 meters. Generally a very solid snowpack at this location. Only test results were easy failures in the new lowe denstity storm snow on surface hoar and small facets. Calm and warm day in the sunshine while still cool and -8 in the shade. We saw evidence of old windslabs in high, steep alpine start zones to sz2 but no recent signs of instability.

Great riding in Chappell today. Still on the hunt for the surface hoar... We found it down 120cm giving hard results. Upper pack had an interface at the storm snow layer down 65cm also giving hard results. Good visibility today, no avalanches observed. Lots of wind texture to the snow in open areas especially at ridgelines, with cornices building.

We found 30-40 cm of blower snow and great riding at treeline with no slab properties in the areas ridden today. Foot penetration was 65 cm. We didn’t find the large surface hoar that we observed in Allan creek on Tuesday but suspect it’s there given the photos of recent avalanches reported in a MIN on Dec. 11th. and our proximity to Allan Creek. As the new snow settles into a more cohesive slab it will become reactive to human triggers where it is sitting on surface hoar; especially in wind affected areas.

Saw a multiple natraul slides on south facing tree line avalanche paths on the trail in to chappell creek. (See pictures) Rain crust is very hard from valley bottom to about 1600m transitioning to powder at about 1800m. Alpine and tree line riding at chappell creek is great!

Great day in Chappell Creek. Above zero in the valley bottom this morning. At 1300hrs we recorded -1 in the alpine. Surface snow was still fun and fluffy, no wetness noted. Sustain westerly winds in the open alpine averaging moderate, regularly gusting strong. Seems to have variable wind direction in treeline terrain due to the extent of alpine winds. Significant drifting and surface slabbing in open alpine terrain. Very small, less than sz 1 released on steep convex features at treeline and no other avalanche activity noted although alpine visibility was terrible. We tested for the Dec pwls in a sheltered northerly treeline feature and while we could see them in a profile wall, there were no recordable results with compression test besides shears in the 20cms of new storm snow.

Still freezing cold temps in the mornings but by mid morning the alpine was very pleasurable in the sun. Quick trip today looking for the mid Jan PWL. We found it alive and well below tree line at 1450m. It was 45cm down producing sudden results on both compression and extended column tests. For videos please see the Ridevalemount facebook page. In this instance, the test results were spicy and this sleeping dragon can certainly be woken easily. New surface hoar growth below treeline and treeline in sheltered areas. Open alpine is wind hammered.....again and still...ugh. No notable results in a quick test profile upper treeline although we did find the pwl down 55cms. Moral of the story is to enjoy the sun and the great views. If you are looking for a soft line, you will need to head to the trees, but be cautious as the hazards still exist and may catch you off guard. Ride safe.

We probed near the top of the ridge by Chappelle. Found 110cm of snow. Couldn't do an actual column test as the columns were breaking as we were cutting them. Could see one slope across tiffany lake had slide. Not sure how big of a slide as we stayed away and it was in the distance

Still extremely early season conditions. 105cms at 1900meters. 20cms of new snow sits on top of decomposing surface hoar layer on sheltered treeline aspects or a melt freeze crust on solar aspects. No new avalanches or signs of instability noted although the thin snowpack limited travel. Quick test profile on a NW treeline asp produced moderate compression test results 20cm down on the new storm snow interface otherwise no noteable results. Not heading out again until we get some significant precip!

74cm up top close to the chapple sign. Did a column test. On the 6th tap from my wrist, the column broke in 3 spots. Approx 2" from the top. Approx 10" from the top and approx 3" from the ground. No signs of Avalance activity

Great day in the alpine. still very low overall with an average of 90cms at 1900m. Widespread surface hoar above 1800m growing very large in sheltered aspects. Strong afternoon solar producing moist surface snow. 3 sz1 natural slides in NE alpine aspect. Could not get near them to inspect. Suspect small wsl over very slippery surface hoar. Pictures will not upload

Wow amazing spring day. 25cms new at 2100m elevation. Strong solar affect. Moist surface snow. Wind affect in lee and open areas. Besides windslab cracking, no avalanche activity seen nearby or on far off slopes. +9 at 1430 valley bottom. Sorry no alpine temps.

whoa....freak storm overnight dropped between 15-30cms of snow just south of Valemount with not a flake falling in the town site. New snow is not happy and is failing everywhere up to size 2. Things are moving fast and far. Good propagation and long runouts. If its above 30deg and in upper treeline or the alpine, expect it to move. Please be very careful around any potential terrain traps. Enjoy the beauty weather and ride smart.

Seen this triggered avalanche. No other riders were in the area at the time. Looks like it may have happened yesterday.

Amazing day in the Cariboos. Looks to be close to 65cms of new snow over the last several days. No avalanche activity in the riding area and one estimated 2.5 was noted on in the adjacent range. Very steep east aspect, suspect windslab let go during last nights winds. Test profile at 2000m on a NW aspect. 275cms total snow. Air temps -8 and calm winds. Clouds prevailed today with spells of sun shiny awesomeness. No significant test results in the profile with a few shears in the upper 15cms of most recent storm snow. I was just informed of a large rider triggered avalanche in Allan Creek on a very steep and large NE aspect. Large propagation and estimated 60cm slap. One burial, no injuries and no further details. Lots of new load on a touchy snowpack. Please choose your terrain wisely. Best to stick to low angle terrain with no overhead exposure. Ride safe

We did not see any avalanche activity in the Coulees. Dug a pit with a depth of 160 cm to the ground at 1900 meters, south west aspect. Compression test hard, 25, full column collapse at the ground on basial facets.

50 cm of storm snow depending on location, very cold but did get some sun. 250cm total snow depth @ 1900m SE. observed natural release size 1 NE shaded aspect, we were able to produce shooting cracks but nothing let go despite easy hands test on trail.

Winter returned to Chappell Creek. 55cm of new snow over the last few days. Alpine temperatures of -3. 195cm snowpack at 2100m. No avalanche activity seen although a significant amount of shooting cracks. We tested a lot of steep convex features and many cracked but did not move, likely just needs a bit more time to stiffen up. Trail side at 1600m we were getting easy hand tests. There looks to be 30cm of new snow on a significant surface hoar layer. In the middle of this 30cm of snow there is also a very thin rain crust. While we did not see avalanche activity, we did not push alpine terrain. With new load comes and increased hazard. Ride safe.

Area was very tracked out with major wind affected hills with lots of hard and soft drifts. Sun was amazing, definitely a nice ride for christmas. Needs more snow.

Exceptional riding day. Too much fresh snow to allow significant travel. 205cms HS in a flat open alpine meadow. 70cm foot pen. Lots of whumping on creek banks, smaller meadows etc