Backcountry Update

AS OF TUESDAY, FEB. 14

Small top-ups of snow every day last week have made for some pretty good skiing lately. Looking ahead, the weekend is expected to bring fairly benign weather. It’s looking like cloudy conditions, a bit of snow but not much, and cool temperatures but not cold. What does it all mean from an avalanche perspective? For the snowpack, it adds up to minimal change, which on the bright side means there is probably still good skiing to be had—we may just have to look a little harder to find it!

What types of areas should be avoided this weekend? Strong winds varying in direction have created a variety of wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations. Expect wind slabs that will linger on all aspects in the alpine and variable skiing/riding conditions.

Also, the persistent weak layers continue to remain at the forefront of our minds. We are concerned about two specific weak layers in the snowpack. Both weak layers consist of a crust with small facets found above them. The first weak layer is down 40 to 100 centimetres and has been reactive at treeline in the Rhododendron and Pemberton Icefields area. The second weak layer can be found at elevations up to 1,900 metres

Joe McDermid // President of the GVFD Society Rob Van Doorn // Regional

Fire Chief

and is down 60 to 150 cm in the snowpack. This layer has been reactive to human triggering in the Brandywine region.

Where should we go to mitigate avalanche risk? Sheltered terrain features at and below treeline in areas that have not been affected by wind will likely provide the best skiing.

One of the hardest things with a persistent weak layer problem is a lack of clues. When we provide advice on managing storm-related problems near the surface of the snowpack, we often advise people to watch for signs of instability like whumpfing and cracking, signs of wind-loading, and observations of recent avalanche activity. These are all strong signs that the snowpack is unstable.

With a persistent slab problem, there are typically no obvious clues until it’s too late. The first sign of instability could be a large avalanche. This means it’s important to be highly conscious when choosing terrain. Avoid steep, rocky, windaffected areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin and triggering slabs is more likely. Stick to conservative, supported terrain where triggering persistent slabs is less likely.

Remember to check avalanche.ca for the current Sea to Sky regional forecast. ■

CONDITIONS MAY VARY AND CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY Check for the most current conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Daily updates for the areas adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb are available at 604-938-7676, or surf to www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountain-info/ snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.