Coast Mountains Ski and Snow Conditions 2011-2012

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Looks like enough people are getting out and getting it in the Coast Mountains, so we might as well start a thread.

Suggest we keep Coastal stuff, skiing and conditions, in the same thread--then we don't have to be searching for two threads to figure out what's the happening thing.

Andy Traslin's been out and getting goods the honest way... Pics on Blackcomb

Conditions still skimpy at treeline on the Duffey, but on northern exposures with neve conditions conditions are already reasonable. Closer to Whistler there's lots of neve on northern exposures, so many areas have over 400m vertical on new snow over neve.

Higher glacial areas have much more vertical. Usual early season crevasse issues a concern, although there are areas with pretty complete coverage if linear slopes can be found.

Joffre Icefall, Matier hiding in cloud in the background, 111009, coming back from hut maintenance. Surface sluffing noted on steeper start zones at about 2200-2300m.

Whitehonky · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:26 pm Post subject:

Sunday:

Happy Thanksgiving Monday:

West Coast early winter wear - Mrs. WH ready with the umbrella at hand:

_________________
"It's a strange world made up of extreme horizontal and vertical planes. Where you find diagonal, you find skiing."
~Chad Sayers

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Clearing skies overnight and a dirty high is in place for the next four days or so. Next storm looks like Monday.

More reports this week of good skiing on higher snowfields and glaciers...

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Hiking report from Fitzsimmons Range here that shows coverage at TL and just above TL locations.

Checked out Metaldome yesterday. Snowline around treeline with rapid accumulation of base as one climbs. Heavy coverage on glaciers, which have this year's neve coverage. Lots of wind-effect from the prevailing SW during storms.

Quite the buzz around town this week as the skies cleared...folks are getting up and making turns... Very Happy

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Glide cracks on the top of Shale Slope today, as temps warmed up a touch in the Whistler area. Temps stayed below freezing above 1400m on the Duffey as long as one was in the shade...

B · Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 2181 Location: P-town, CA

Flush!

mountaineer · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 280 Location: Vancouver, BC

Skied Brohm Ridge and the Warren Glacier on Sunday, October 23rd. Snow starts at 1700m and was hard, thick rain crust all the way up to 2100m. Snow from last year provided a good base for skiing on the eastern part of the ridge, and the new snow from this month has smoothed out all the sun cups. A bit of graupel over top of the crust made for some fast smooth turns down the edge of the Warren glacier.

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Varied graupel and snow events on the Duffey this weekend. Little accumulation at 1900m (10cm storm snow), but more accumulation and at times extreme wind transport at higher elevations (2300m +).

Skiable terrain on northern exposures with neve and reasonable coverage coming together on smoother bed surfaces. -5C low at 1900m on 111023.

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Currently snowing outside my window in the valley. A La Nina tease for certain, but a pleasant tease at that!

Whitehonky · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:31 pm Post subject:

That does not suck.
_________________
"It's a strange world made up of extreme horizontal and vertical planes. Where you find diagonal, you find skiing."
~Chad Sayers

mekon · Joined: 25 Feb 2007 Posts: 1156 Location: vancouver, b.c.

From my office window, the snow line on the North Shore reaches down to the hideous "cut" on Grouse goes across Goat touches the top of Cypress/Hollyburn, the Lions etc.; goes the other way across Coliseum/Burfield(?) over to Seymour.Way north, at the end of the Seymour Valley and beyond it is all white up high. Very very nice to see on such a gorgeous day...to be spent in seminar, shades drawn...boo hoo

How were Vancouver beers? My evening was spent dealing with a flooded basement...

clarkee · Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 101

Yeah great panorama from Richmond this morning, saying that though yesterday's dawn was stunning as well

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Significant snowfall this afternoon in the Callaghan. Snowing S5 at 1600 hrs at 800m. Temps just below freezing and strong winds from the south. 15cm accumulated in about two hours at that elevation.

Telebear seems happy about something....

Rebob · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2437 Location: Whistler, BC

Whistler/Blackcomb has started posting some alpine weather forecast info on their website. Looks like a relatively stable weather pattern for the next few days. Alpine forecast is located here.

Last night's storm came in powerfully, with heavy initial precip and strong winds. Precip ended quickly and temps dropped in alpine. With enough snow to tour on in the alpine, it would be worthwhile checking the interface between recent storm snow and older seasonal snows and the neve left from last year before venturing into anything steepish.

Reports from Callaghan indicated touring possible from Callaghan Lake to summit of Journeyman. Turns reasonable to 6300ft. Yesterday's storm likely deposited at least 15cm over that, but the FSR to Callaghan is no longer open to vehicle traffic.

Most accessible turns would likely be from Brandywine or Chance/Ault Creek accesses at this point.

mekon · Joined: 25 Feb 2007 Posts: 1156 Location: vancouver, b.c.

A few shots from yesterday in the little Coast Mountains...(first pump of Mt. Seymour):