AVY Danger This Weekend

[powderhoundbrr]

I am thinking that there will be a natural avy cycle starting today and continuing for the next few days. Careful on the big slopes everyone. Lots of new snow and warming up well above zero and raining in the East Kootenays right now. Everything will be ripe. I saw a lot of red on the CAC bulletins.

 

[TylerG]

thanks for the heads up, definitely reminding everyone to check Welcome to avalanche.ca before you head out, lots of fresh snow falling, everyone wants to get out and ride, but please lets keep our wits about us.

 

[underdog]

Thanks for the reminder. I hope everyone makes it home safe this weekend.

sent from a phone

 

[Taminator]

Big wind and rain in the valley...snowing up top, conditions are gonna be nasty!

This is Golden through Radium area for the next few days.


Wednesday
r Rating: Wednesday

alpine

4 - HighVery dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

tree line

3 - ConsiderableDangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding and conservative decision making essential.

below tree line

2 - ModerateHeightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

	Thursday	Friday
Alpine​	4 - High	4 - High
Treeline​	3 - Considerable	3 - Considerable
Below Treeline​	2 - Moderate	2 - Moderate

Confidence: Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain​

 

[Depsnolvr]

Yes, we have had quite the loading the last few days around here as well. It will be interesting to see what kind of activity it brings. TONNES of simple classified yet technical terrain out there, so get out and have some fun, but listen to the warnings and play safe

 

[capt. crunch]

raining in Revy.

 

[ferniesnow]

The South Rockies has been divided into 2 parts for this year; the Lizard Range and South Rockies. The Lizard Range is the west side of the highway or the mountains in and around the ski hill/Island Lake. The South Rockies is still a broad area with lots of different conditions throughout the East Kootenays. The CAC has a couple of guys spending 4 days a week in the field around Fernie (ie Corbin, Upper Elk Valley, Flathead, Notch, Coal Creek, Alexander, Atlas, etc.) digging pits and gathering more specific data to forward to the CAC for more information for the bulletins. It is looking promising.

With the rain in the Elk Valley, there will be a lot of avi activity prior to the weekend. At higher elevations the snow is very wet and heavy. A couple of bulletins are below. Play safe and even if you are in the trees keep an eye out above you.

Lizard Range

Date Issued Tuesday, 22 November 2011 05:54 PM

Valid Until Wednesday, 23 November 2011 04:00 PM

South Rockies

Date Issued Tuesday, 22 November 2011 05:57 PM

Valid Until Wednesday, 23 November 2011 04:00 PM

Due to a lack of data, the confidence is only FAIR. So it could change with changing conditions and on different aspects and different wind loading.

 

[ferniesnow]

Another updated version this evening:

Lizard Range

Date Issued Wednesday, 23 November 2011 04:55 PM

Valid Until Thursday, 24 November 2011 04:00 PM

Thursday Friday Saturday

South Rockies

Date Issued Wednesday, 23 November 2011 11:00 PM

Valid Until Thursday, 24 November 2011 04:00 PM

Thursday Friday Saturday

[h=2]Avalanche Activity[/h]Numerous large natural avalanches up to size 3.5 have been reported in the region. Explosives use in the lizard range yesterday produced slab avalanches up to size 2.5. The start zones are all between 1800-1900m, average crown depths 70-150, all running to ground. The failing layers above ground being rain crust/facet/depth hoar combo. These avalanches have propagated far and fast. Even though there may not be enough snow to create below treeline avalanche problems, there is potential for larger avalanches from above to run into this elevation. I suspect this activity to be quite widespread. With more wind, snow, and higher freezing levels I suspect this problem to will become more sensitive, and avalanche activity will increase over the next few days as the stormy weather continues in the region.It appears that the rain and the heavy wet snow is doing a number