Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

PARTY FOR THE BULLETIN! Don’t miss the Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin Fund Raising Party 24 January, 2009 at the Riding Fool Hostel in Cumberland. Two great bands, prizes, silent auction items and beer from our friends at Phillp’s Brewing. If you use the bulletin and would like to support it, come on out and party! Call 250 336 2870 or email info@islandalpineguides.com for more info.

Date Issued: Monday, December 22, 2008

Valid Until: Thursday, December 25, 2008

Bulletin Area: This bulletin covers the mountainous region of Vancouver Island from the Mt. Cain Ski Area in the North to the Beaufort range to the South including the mountains of Strathcona Provincial Park.

DANGER RATINGS

Weather: As was the case with our previous two snow events, this past week-ends snow tracked quite far south leaving considerably more snow in the southern part of the island mountains and virtually no snow in the north. Whereas Mount Cain received a skiff of new snow, the southern reaches of the island mountains received between 20 and 35 cm depending on location and altitude.

Travel advisory: Below tree line the snow pack continues to be below threshold levels with terrain poking through the low density snow. Even in the southern end of the Island Alps there is still not enough snow cover to slide downhill safely on skis or a snowboard. Rocks, stumps etc. pose a significant hazard. At tree line and in the alpine new snow and wind in the southern portion of the forecast area (and to the south of that at Mount Arrowsmith)  will have left wind slab in some locations making skier triggered avalanches a possibility. Be particularly cautious on slopes lee to the winds and in areas of smooth ground cover. As always be aware of terrain traps. With the very low density snow, partially hidden obstacles are also a very real hazard in the alpine and at tree line. On the north island snow height is below threshold in all areas including the alpine. An interesting exception exists in that there are isolated areas were blown snow will have been deposited on top of a very weak facet layer which has formed at an ice crust in the very shallow (30-40cm) north island snow pack. While ski tourers are unlikely to end up where this hazard exists because there is not enough snow to ski there, travellers on foot or snow shoes should be on the look out for these isolated slabs. They can certainly be triggered by the weight of a person.

Snowpack: Observations are still limited. The North Island snow pack is at only 30-40cm with a substantial facet layer at a crust in isolated locations. Wind slab overlies this layer in places. The souther Island mountains have 60-100cm of low density snow with limited variation in density. Wind slabs exist in the lees at tree line and in the alpine. The snow pack is below threshold below tree line in all areas.

Outlook: 15-30 cm of snow is forecast for the mountains late Tuesday and Wednesday. Winds will rise to moderate SE during this event and then NW later Wednesday. Thursday appears to be clear and sunny. More snow is forecast starting late Thursday or early Friday. Freezing levels should remain at or near sea levelfor the forecast period.

Confidence: Fair. Very limited observations of the snow pack to date. Also predicting snowfall amounts in the current situation of arctic air is difficult. We could get less or much more snow.

Are you traveling in the island back country?

Send our forecasters your observations. We are particularly interested in hearing if you have observed avalanche activity or If you or a member of your party has been involved in an avalanche. Email your observations to the Island Alpine Guides Avalanche Bulletin.

Important Notice: This is a regional forecast and significant variation may exist within the forecast area. The information and danger ratings are intended as a trip planning aid for recreational, backcountry users of avalanche terrain; they are not meant to be used as the sole factor in determining the avalanche danger presented by a specific slope. Always include local weather, snowpack and avalanche observations in your decision to travel in avalanche terrain. Observations and experience may lead to different conclusions from what is reported or recommended. See disclaimer for further details. The technical data used to produce these bulletins is obtained from a variety of sources, including local ski areas and remote weather resources.