Avalanche Forecast a/o 12/26/08

[Fairweather]

AVALANCHE...STARTING WITH PERHAPS THE MOST FRAGILE SNOWPACK IN THE

PAST 20 YEARS...THE INCREASING WINDS...HEAVY PRECIPITATION AND

RISING FREEZING LEVELS EXPECTED LATE FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY

SHOULD RAPIDLY RAMP UP OUR AVALANCHE DANGER. FOLLOW THIS WITH HEAVY

RAIN OR SNOW...STRONG WINDS AND SLOW COOLING LATER SATURDAY...AND WE

HAVE A RECIPE FOR VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE BACK COUNTRY AND

GENERALLY HIGH DANGER LIKELY IN MOST LOCATIONS. HUMAN TRIGGERED

SLIDES OF NEW SNOW SHOULD BE LIKELY AND SOME SLIDES SATURDAY COULD

INVOLVE ALL OF OUR CURRENT SNOWPACK TO DATE...WHICH HAS VERY WEAK

FACETS AND RECRYSTALLIZED SNOW NEAR THE GROUND. AVALANCHE WARNING

HAS BEEN ISSUED TO EMPHASIZE THE DANGERS. GOOD TIME TO SHOVEL

DRIVEWAYS OR EXCHANGE GIFTS AT THE MALL. PLEASE SEE WWW.NWAC.US FOR

DETAILS. MOORE

 

[JBo6]

Just saw that, thanks for posting it.

[pope]

Cascades of rain-soaked snow have been launching off my metal roof all afternoon, producing thunder in the house when the heavy snow free-falls onto the lower roof. Shakes the whole house! At least I won't have to remove Christmas lights from the gutter outside our front room....they were avalanched off. Broken glass everywhere.

[DirtyHarry]

THE MOST FRAGILE SNOWPACK IN TWENTY YEARS!!!!!

 

But that's what they said last year. With the caveat: Eight times higher than Extreme! But excellent skiing was found that day too.

 

As someone said on TAY recently, unstable snowpack doesn't necessarily equal avalanches.

 

Anyway, I'd recommend that all people stay out of the backcountry this year. Its dangerous.

[Toast]

Fernie B.C. Avalanche Kills Six

[Hugh Conway]

with 2 missing since Sunday morning, it killed 8

[jordop]

I just saw on the news that experienced people use transponders and rescue poles.

[G-spotter]

The utility of paying $100 up front plus $100/year thereafter for a Spot body recovery device has been confirmed.