Was working at Callaghan Country Lodge (near Whistler) for the last 9 days (Jan 23-31st). Meters of snow fell during this time. During the last 3 days: 40 cm came in the last storm (ending Monday morning), and 30cm of new snow was on the ground by yesterday afternoon 3pm. The snow depth at Callaghan Lodge (4500') is 390 cm. Most smaller creeks are covered over, but the larger creeks (more than 4m wide) are still a problem to cross (3-4m snow walls with running water below). I guess by not having a real freeze to date this winter the creeks never completely iced over and subsequently got covered.
The Jan 19th surface hoar layer (buried140cm below the snow surface at 5200') seems to have stabalized. I have not seen any avalanches run on it lately and tests indicate it has consolidated between layers.
On the 30th we got into the alpine and saw lots of wind effected snow. Found a few size 1-2 natural avalanches that slid during that previous nights storm.
Yesterday skiied tree line runs on a south aspects 4500'- 6000'. Found a weak 1cm crust just below the surface that was caused by the previous days sun, but it did not hamper skiing.
I treated the stability at Tree Line as Considerable (as of yesterday 3pm). I have not seen the Alpine enough (due to storms for the last couple of days) to comment.
All days the trail breaking was knee to thigh deep in Tree Line areas and less in the Alpine due to wind packed snow. Due to deep snow downhill skiing was only possible in steeper areas and it produced very good quality turns, the only difficulty was breathing (take a snorkle).
Dave Sarkany, Ski Guide
Callaghan Backcountry Lodge www.callaghancountry.com