[MCR] South Coast, west of Squamish

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Finally some clear weather has arrived on the coast! 

 

This morning we took a flight from Squamish over the peaks to the west to
survey some avalanche paths in the Clowhom valley, and do some digging. In
addition we flew over the Tantalus Range on the way home. With the exception
of the tenacious valley fog draped over Vancouver and some of the inlets, we
found only high thin could, with limitless visibility. Felt like spring at
ridge top elevations with highs of 12 C. Weird.

 

Avalanche results from the previous 2 weeks of weather events were variable,
and we saw everything from large events running full path, to huge bowls
that had cracked (but not run), to big faces that appeared to be fully
intact, and still ready to rumble. Suspect the bigger releases ran on the
early December crust/facets, but some shallower releases may have released
on the Jan 7 layer or during the storms. Of note was cornices appeared to be
much smaller than normal for this time of year.

 

We managed to do one full snow profile at 1400m on a SW aspect,  in which we
observed a thin surface meltfreeze crust sitting above a well settled 140cm
snowpack that was mostly moist (not wet, but not dry either). Shear test
results were in the top 60 cm, and were mostly irregular and not alarming at
this lower elevation. In addition we stopped for a quick probe and surface
assessment on a SE slope at 1700m (subtle lee feature). There was twice the
amount of snow here (280 cm), and the snow underneath the crust will still
quite dry. The early Dec layer was easily identified with the probe as a
weak feeling layer, about 240 cm below the surface. 

 

In discussions with 2 other avalanche professionals I was working with
today, we all felt that the snowpack stability has improved, but we are
still a way off from letting our guard down completely, especially with
these mid-day high temperatures.

 

Not that we did any skiing, but if you were so inclined.most exposed
locations showed evidence of being seriously wind effected, and the surface
crust forming with these warm temps would be a force for any knee to be
reckoned with. That said, I suspect there could be some reasonable turns to
be had on north treeline glade features. But I think I am going to dig out
my climbing gear and hit the south facing bluffs in Squamish instead.

 

Brian Gould

Mountain Guide

bgould at avalancheservices.ca 

 

PS Haberl Hut picture

DSC_1042.JPG

 

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