The CMBR team was up in the Decker area in the Spearheads on the 15th of January: Friday's rain episode created a widespread wet snow avalanche cycle to size 2.0 at elevations up to 2400m on all aspects. There is considerable frozen avalanche debris on steeper slopes in avalanche terrain throughout the Spearhead range to that elevation. The new snow that resulted from dropping FL's in the early hours of Saturday has been melted by sun on southern aspects to 2200m. On northern aspects it has been transported by moderate to strong winds at ridgetop. Temperature inversions over the 150213 crust have caused widespread faceting over the crust where snow has been redeposited. This has resulted in a weak layer for any subsequent storms. With rising FL's forecast, southern slopes may be working back towards isothermal at elevations above 2200m. Below 2100m on Sunday, the crust was only pencil density and subject to solar heating and breakdown. Low angle terrain at higher elevations, above 2200m provides the best skiing surfaces, with serious percolation channels found below 1900m in the backcountry. Steeper southern aspects are corning up in the afternoon's currently, with some good turns to be had before the crust breaks down. For the future: depending upon weather and FL's, facetted layers may persist at higher northern aspects and provide a poor bonding surface for future snow. On southern slopes, be concerned about rising FL's and solar heating causing the upper snowpack to go isothermal and wet loose avalanches that result. Be concerned for the avalanche and rollerball debris that is found beneath any steep slopes on all aspects up to 2400m. Finally, evidence is that many people are getting close to cornices and travelling over the pull-away cracks. These may exist some distance (10 or more metres) back from actual cornice lips. At least two occasions of people stepping into the snow-covered cracks and plunging to chest depth were noted. Be advised that these cracks will only deepen as warmer temperatures and higher FL's occur. As always, be sure to check the local bulletins before planning your outings: Sea to Sky: http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/sea... Whistler Blackcomb http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-... Thanks for tuning in, see you next week! CMBR Team. Disclaimer: These are the opinions of the observer and should only be used as part of an informed decision making process. Please use caution in the backcountry.

• published: 18 Feb 2015
• views: 184