The Candadian Mountain and Ski Guide touring course spent the past week skiing
in the Coast Range.
Whistler/Blackcomb Feb 1-3, 2016
Evidence of the Jan 28 rain event and associated natural avalanche cycle was
widespread, with a supportive rain crust below 1800m and rugged refrozen debris
on runs such as Husume, the Poop Chutes and Phalanx.
On Feb 2 visibility was good, and numerous aggressive lines in the Blackcomb
backcountry were skied with sluffing to size one. A large cornice fall in the
Trorey Col did not initiate an avalanche on the underlying slope.
A storm cycle began on Feb 3 with moderate to strong southerly winds, moderate
rates of precipitation and increasing temperatures, with touchy windslabs
developing near ridge tops. Cornices are growing rapidly.
Since our last field day in the Whistler on Feb 3, significant snowfall and
continued winds have likely changed conditions considerably.
Duffey Lakes Rd - Marriot Basin and Cerise Creek Feb 4-5, 2016
Ski quality was very poor below treeline with 10-15cm of recent snow over the
supportive Jan 28 rain crust.
A significant storm began on Feb 4 with snowfall, moderate to strong southerly
winds and mild temperatures. By early in the day on Feb 5 the wind affect was
widespread, one huge tree had fallen over the approach trail to the Keith hut,
and windslabs were cracking with ski traffic at 1900m and above.
The early January SH layers were found down 1m and results on this layer in
snowpack tests varied from resistant planar to sudden planar depending on
location.
Jasmin Caton
Conny Amelunxen
Kirsten Knechtel
Marc Piché
_______________________________________________
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