Vancouver Island
Avalanche Forecast
Published: Apr 18th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Published: Apr 17th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Published: Apr 16th, 2025Start when it's hard in the valley of the Bard
Not quite a tragedy but we ended up in the Capulet Creek area a bit too late to start ascending after being turned around at Schoen Lake. The access assessment was quite worthwhile though. Expect a bit of bush pinstriping on the Rooney Lake Main.
We parked at about 900m, just below the RL680 branch and had a short walk in patchy road coverage, following a few old ski tracks slowly disappearing with the low elevation snow. We turned around about 1km back from the end of the Rooney Lake Main. The area looks like it still has good potential for a daytrip with sleds not really needed to cover the short approach distance.
A final look up the Owen Creek drainange was worth the time as well, however old avalanches block the last few km of the road, just beyond Owen Lake.
Tick tock! ;)
AvCan Vancouver Island,
Wednesday 16th April, 2025 2:00PM
Schoen ain't goin'
Lots of trees down on the Schoen Road kept us out of Kokummi Pass today. Someone (Parks?) has cleared some of the way but a thick trunk at cab height turned us around roughly where the location pin is.
AvCan Vancouver Island,
Wednesday 16th April, 2025 2:00PM
Avalanche Forecast
Published: Apr 15th, 2025Sutterhorn Corn 🌽
Beautiful day for a classic Island corn harvest in the Sutton Peak area. The Nimpkish Main is super busy and tuning your radio to Woss Direct is advised! We staged sleds at about 750 m on the Fire Creek branch of the Stuart road and had a straightforward, mostly firm ascent to ridgetop with a few mercifully soft steps in spots hit by the morning sun. Ski crampons are useful early in the day but bootpacking works too.
We summitted a secondary peak on the massif and settled in for a longish break as we waited for the corn to be born. We hit it just about perfectly by starting down around 1pm. One or two turns on shady crust, one or two in punchy isothermal shmoo, but the great majority in picture perfect corn. Minor aspect changes make a big difference from slope to slope.
Still very worth it out there! Just gotta nail the timing.😉
AvCan Vancouver Island,
Tuesday 15th April, 2025 1:00PM
5040
Spring conditions were in full effect at 5040 this week. Overnight temps on Monday and Tuesday dropped below freezing, with temperatures well above 10C throughout the day. A surface crust melted late in the morning, making for some very moist, but enjoyable riding conditions mid-day. By late afternoon, the snow became completely wet, making uphill travel challenging. While setting a skin track on a steep west-facing slope, we set off a couple size 0.5 wet-loose slabs.
Snowline starts around the bluff, halfway up to Cobalt Lake. Still lots of snow up at the hut.
mlewismanning,
Tuesday 15th April, 2025 12:00PM
Avalanche Forecast
Published: Apr 14th, 2025A Fool's errand
We didn't encounter avalanche conditions today, but Low danger wasn't the reason! Zoom in on the map image to see the three access points we recce'd in the Woss area today without much luck:
-Mt Ashwood: A bit of pruning on the Gold Creek 9700 branch could open this route up nicely. The initial few bushes stopped us in our tracks, then it opens up, but does it get thicker farther down? One to check out with the sleds on a low elevation snow day next season.
-Fools Peak: A nasty rock slide impedes access as soon as you reach the Fools Creek road. It was just a bit too much for our tippy rig. A sportier setup can probably tackle it.
-Mount Elliott: Excellent road travel all the way to about 900 m where a deep patch of wet snow blocked us. It won't be there much longer! Looks all clear above but snow on the ski approach might be quite minimal as well.
Happy spring exploring! :)
AvCan Vancouver Island,
Monday 14th April, 2025 3:00PM
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Cornices, Wind Slabs.
Published: Apr 13th, 2025Slushy
At around 1350m elevation, a large ball of snow/wet slab observed that fell from the cornice. Some evidence of type 1 natural avalanche at the gully section. Ice axe recommended as the snow pack became very slippery and slushy later in the day. Some people were attempting to clear the steep section close to summit but was difficult due to slushy conditions. Beautiful untouched snow once you clear this section.
yu.melanie93,
Sunday 13th April, 2025 12:00PM
Couple steep lines NE off the Bumps
Nice spring outing up the Saddle Route. Cool in the morning, made for a sporty route up through the trees and over any exposed rock. We ended up boot packing to the top of the Saddle as the snow was firm and kicking in toe holds seemed easier than skinning. Once up at the Saddle we transitioned to skinning and contoured around the upper bench above Jewel Lake, zeroing in on the Hour Glass feature off the NE side of the Bumps. Boot crampons and an ice axes were a must for the ascent. The snow was firm and only a thin non reactive wind slab was evident. It warmed up slightly and the snow became just barely more rideable for our descent down the Hour Glass around ~noon. No sign of instability at all. Less than 45min up and down. With success on the first line, and the sun mostly hidden behind clouds, we went to the next steep saddle just south of the Hour Glass. Similar observations were noted. It wasn't until 2pm that the snow became noticeably more enjoyable to ride, and increasingly so as we were now on our decent back down the Saddle Route to the car. It would've been nice to stay out and enjoy the corn snow for a little but Mosaic and their 4pm gate does not allow. Anyway, get out there, the snow pack at Arrowsmith/Cokely is still plentiful up at elevation.
The road up to the Saddle Route was clear, I believe this is the case all the way to the Cokely Rosseau Route too.
Cheers
corriedavidson,
Sunday 13th April, 2025 10:00AM
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Apr 12th, 2025Albert Edward
Great spring conditions. Descent from the summit was soft and supportive Great turns. If the warm spring conditions persist, we'll have corn soon. Some evidence of solar exposed sections releasing as wet sluff later in the day. overall, fairly stable conditions.
kipple,
Saturday 12th April, 2025 12:00PM
Plateau trail avalanche debris
Found this avalanche debris just above the Plateau trail not too far in from the Becher trail. Not sure when it happened
jeremy.ralph,
Saturday 12th April, 2025 12:00AM
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Apr 11th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Apr 10th, 2025April showers bring alpine powders
A quick rip up Beadnell today to see where the freezing level was and to check on how the new snow is bonding to the underlying surface. We started in the pouring rain, parking near the 3km mark on the Eden main. The creeks are getting wider all the time, and the brown spots between snow patches are growing too. The rain switched to mixed precipitation around 1300 m, and full blown snow just a bit higher. The chute is in excellent condition, and the upper trail is well packed. At the upper cabin the wind was blowing and the snow was dumping down. Around 10 cm had accumulated by 1 PM. This snow seemed to be bonding well to the wet/crusty surface below. Heading up to the alpine the visibility was low and the wind was nearly strong enough to take you off your feet. By the end of the storm there might be some nice sledding up top, if the approach can hold up against all this rain.
AvCan Vancouver Island,
Thursday 10th April, 2025 11:30AM
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Apr 9th, 2025Cream Cheese at Cain
We ventured north to Mt Cain to see what the last few storms had done to the snowpack. At higher elevations, 15 cm of moist snow sits over a crust, and down low, wet snow. Wind effect was minor but small soft pockets of up to 50 cm could be found immediately at ridge crest up high.
The day was mostly cloudy, with a trace of convective precipitation. We didn't see any signs of instability, but, old pinwheeling and point releases were apparent.
Where you weren't skiing pinwheels, the ski quality was decent. It's still worth getting out! BTL is melting out quickly but there is still lots of coverage up high.
AvCan Vancouver Island,
Wednesday 9th April, 2025 2:00PM
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Loose Wet.
Published: Apr 8th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Loose Wet.
Published: Apr 7th, 2025Pain and Gain at Cain
The MIN name is a shoutout to the awesome “12 Hours of Pain” Skimo event that was hosted at Mount Cain this weekend!!
~8cm of snow fell early Monday morning above 1300m. Snow was dry above 1450m elevation until sun came out around 1100 making it moist to summit.
In the West bowl a sz 1 storm slab was skier triggered on ‘Sliders’. It had a ~8cm crown, 25m width and ran for 100m. While earlier runs were skied without issue, the steepness, warming temps, and sun likely caused it to release. Skier rode out without issue.
Additionally, on Saturday in the ‘Echo Bowl’ an old sz 2.5 avalanche was discovered (which likely occurred during the natural cycle on 27 March). Crown 75cm, width 75m, ran for over 200m vertical.
sportnewk,
Monday 7th April, 2025 11:00AM
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs.
Published: Apr 6th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Loose Wet.
Published: Apr 5th, 2025