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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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 Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:14 am Post subject: Coast Mountains Ski and Snow Conditions 2009-2010 |
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Well, since it seems we might have snow on the northern aspects at least that will stick around for the season, we might as well put a place marker in for the season, as Whitehonky has suggested.
Last week's snowfall is still lingering below treeline on southern aspects and further down on northern aspects. Reports from the Duffey show accumulations of 60+cm above 2000m and some wind and temperature event layers already present.
Although daytime highs may be inching over 0C at altitude, the north faces were staying quite crunchy and cold over the weekend. We found that the consistently strong outflow winds over the past weekend were creating some redistribution and some stiff windslabs.
Biggest issue right now is probably the facetting going on on those north faces after all the clear skies.
Second biggest issue would likely be the fragile new snowbridges on all the glaciers that have shown so much melting this past summer. With many new crevasses, those thin, dry snowbridges will be an issue... |
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ScottW
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Posts: 578
Location: Vancouver, BC
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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Nice shots, Scott. Did you get above the lake you camped at? Just wondering about the prevailing winds during the most recent storm in that area...it's easy to see the wind effect down lower, but I'm a little curious as to how it all built up on the neve over the ridge towards Marriott.
Also, any problems with recent deadfall on the lower trail? We had it cleaned up in the summer, but this past weekend had some pretty strong winds that might have brought trees down. We have a work party this weekend, but were planning to work on the road access brushing if there weren't new windfalls on the route through the forest. |
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ScottW
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Posts: 578
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Rebob wrote: | Nice shots, Scott. Did you get above the lake you camped at? Just wondering about the prevailing winds during the most recent storm in that area...it's easy to see the wind effect down lower, but I'm a little curious as to how it all built up on the neve over the ridge towards Marriott.
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I didn't go above the upper lake, but 2 others in our party did, and they said it got deeper, nothing more specific. I can tell you that the wind was blowing out of the east (-ish) pretty much all of Saturday night.
| Rebob wrote: |
Also, any problems with recent deadfall on the lower trail? We had it cleaned up in the summer, but this past weekend had some pretty strong winds that might have brought trees down. We have a work party this weekend, but were planning to work on the road access brushing if there weren't new windfalls on the route through the forest. |
Umm, nothing too major I think. There were maybe a couple of deadfalls I guess, but nothing particularly annoying. I'm probably fairly accustomed to stepping over deadfall without even paying attention though, so no guarantees 
We drove to the end of the road in a 4runner without too much paint scratching, though it is a bit narrow in places. There is one spot not too far up the road that is in considerably worse condition (road bed) than the rest. If that were somehow improved then many more vehicles could drive further, but there isn't much parking anyway and it isn't a very long walk.
Now that I think about it though, maybe you are talking about brushing for the purposes of nice-skiing once the snow pushes everything down. |
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Now that I think about it though, maybe you are talking about brushing for the purposes of nice-skiing once the snow pushes everything down. |
Yes, that's exactly it. We try to keep it wide enough that the Sitka alder isn't whipping everyone's faces!
Removing the windfalls also makes access safer during the early season. We don't usually get much snow penetrating the old-growth canopy during November and December...by the time you're at the 5200 meadows, it's good, however.
We leave the rough spot on the road in on purpose. Too many folks driving through the hand-maintained drainage ditches leads to failure and surface erosion down-road. Easier to leave that one mud pit in place and not have to re-dig each ditch every month.  |
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Crosspost from Clubtread for conditions off the Duffey this past weekend. Some good pics... |
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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And another which shows some of the effects of summer melting on the southern portion of the Spearhead Traverse.
Time to practise up those crevasse rescue skills. |
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:43 am Post subject: |
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Broke the overnight low record last night with the Arctic outflow in progress. Rather brisk northerly meant the down came out.
Interesting times. Looks like a little snow tonight, and Pineapple Express by Thursday/Friday. If the ground is frozen, that should be interesting... 
| Quote: | Alpine recreation forecast for the South Coast Mountains issued by Environment Canada at 2 PM PDT Monday 12 October 2009.
The next mountain forecast will be issued at 5 AM Tuesday.
Synopsis.. A Pacific frontal system will approach the coast from the south overnight into Tuesday spreading precipitation to the South Coast Mountains.
Whistler - Blackcomb.
Tonight..Mainly cloudy. Light snow developing overnight.
Alpine low minus 7.
Snowfall accumulation trace to 2 cm.
Freezing level lowering to valley bottom this evening.
Mountain top winds rising to southeast 30 km/h overnight.
Tuesday..Periods of snow.
Alpine high minus 2.
Snowfall accumulation 5 cm.
Freezing level increasing to 1800 metres late in the evening.
Mountain top winds rising to southeast 40 gusting to 60 km/h.
5 Day Trend.. A moist and warm southwesterly flow will send a series of frontal systems to the area. Rising freezing level will change the precipitation to rain by late Wednesday then rain heavy at times can be expected through Friday. However there is some uncertainty with the timing of the features affecting the coast in this strong flow.
Wednesday.. Snow mixed with rain.
Snowfall accumulation 5 to 10 cm.
Rainfall amount 10 to 15 mm.
Freezing level 1600 metres rising to 2200 metres.
Thursday.. Rain.
Rainfall amount 30 to 40 mm.
Freezing level 2500 metres.
Friday.. Periods of rain.
Rainfall amount 20 mm.
Freezing level 3000 metres.
Copyright 2009 Environment Canada. |
Now, how is that for Coastal? |
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Mr. T
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 1644
Location: Bellingham
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| Single Malt Season! |
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mekon
Joined: 25 Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Location: vancouver, b.c.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Reminds me I need new rain pants.
Climbed Mount Seymour with a visiting friend the other day. Almost zero on top but all but the slightest traces of the snow from a week ago were gone. The black bears were out, though, apparently finishing off the surprisingly large number of remaining blueberries.
(aside: friend is a swimmer who swims miles and miles per week. he could barely hike up seymour. swimming, i bet, is not good training for telemarking either.) |
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | (aside: friend is a swimmer who swims miles and miles per week. he could barely hike up seymour. swimming, i bet, is not good training for telemarking either.) |
No, but it may be the best training for what we'll get this Thursday/Friday in SWBC...
He may get the last laugh yet. |
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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Significant snowfall over the weekend has nicely filled in some of the upper levels in the Whistler area. Temps generally trending to more seasonal and more precipitation is forecast.
Nice views this afternoon with clearing. FL rose above valley bottom this afternoon. |
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mekon
Joined: 25 Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Location: vancouver, b.c.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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Frost on our neighbor's roof in East Van this morning. Does that count?
And the Lions once again look lovely in white... |
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Whitehonky
Joined: 30 Mar 2005
Posts: 4934
Location: Looking at the South Coast Mountains
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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The sky's parted enough today before the next system tonight in order to actually make use of the webcams:
_________________
"It's a strange world made up of extreme horizontal and vertical planes. Where you find diagonal, you find skiing."
~Chad Sayers |
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Rebob
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: Whistler, BC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:29 am Post subject: |
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For those getting a little eager, some stokeage from last spring may be found here with Craig's edit on the McBride Traverse in a day...
Also, the Canadian Avalanche Centre's Backcountry Avalanche Workshops go ahead November 7th in Vangroovey and then to five other venues.
Line-up is very topical and local for the SWBC crowd.
More info here
Big focus this year is TERRAIN. Presentations on local Coast Mountains ski traverses, trip analyses of the Cerise/Vantage area, Marriott Basin. A review of climax avalanche activity the past couple of years in SWBC, Avalanche Terrain Rating Scale activities and more... |
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