Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

The Party for the bulletin is Tomorrow Saturday 23 January!

We are happy to announce the second annual Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin Fund Raising Party. Last year’s event was such a success that we are going to do it all again! Great live music from two bands, beer from our friends at Surgenor Brewing and an awesome silent auction with lots of great outdoor gear, lift passes, art and much more are all part of this years event again. The vibe last year in the Riding Fool Hostel in Cumberland was legendary and all could not wait for this years event. Come on out and have a great time and support your bulletin while you are at it! It all happens on Saturday evening 23 January at the Riding Fool Hostel in Cumberland. Doors at 8:00PM.

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Date Issued: Friday 22 January, 2010

Valid Until: Sunday 24 January, 2010.

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

Confidence:

Good.

Weather:

The Island alps saw 30 to 80mm of water from this past Sunday evening to the present with the majority of that falling on Sunday night and Monday. Freezing levels hovered mostly between about 1200 and 1400m meaning all of this came as snow to the alpine and at tree line with a mixture of rain and snow lower down depending on elevation, location and timing. The forecast is for just a trace of snow on Saturday evening with winds light to moderate from the E through SE. Freezing levels are up a bit Friday but will come down to hover around 1000m and head lower at times. The next frontal system will hit the island late Sunday bringing at least moderate snowfall amounts and stronger winds. See Sunday nights bulletin for the up-date on this.

Avalanche Activity:

Numerous human triggered avalanches to size 1 were reported at and below tree line on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Though not observed we expect that there was natural activity in the parts of the island alps which received the higher precipitation amounts Sunday night and Monday.

Snowpack: 

Wind slab which remains triggerable by humans is the main feature of the snow pack of concern at present. There is surface hoar which was buried starting Sunday and which is now underneath a minimum of 50cm of new snow. It will have resulted in avalanches in many of the places where it was found already but may remain in wind protected, open areas at and below tree line.

Travel Advisory:

We have headed into a more stable trend for the next few days as snow from this weeks storms settles in. Wind slabs triggerable by humans remain in the alpine and at tree line. Being observant and watching how wind has moved through the terrain that you are in will help you to recognise where windslab is before skiing into it. Keep an eye out for both lee loading over ridges as well as cross loading. Remember that normal caution during even periods of moderate and low hazard ratings includes always looking out for wind slab and being properly equipped for back country travel. Also be aware that plenty of new snow and strong winds in the alpine and at tree line have lead to significant cornice growth. Cornices are unpredictable and should be treated with respect.

Outlook:

The forecast is for just a trace of snow on Saturday evening with winds light to moderate from the E through SE. Freezing levels are up a bit Friday but will come down to hover around 1000m and head lower at times. The next frontal system will hit the island late Sunday bringing at least moderate snowfall amounts and stronger winds. See Sunday nights bulletin for the up-date on this.

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 Avalanche Bulletin forecasters at info@islandalpineguides.com

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.