Went into the Whistler Near country today with Keith Reid, MG and Dave Sarkany, SG. Great day of skiing. This is what might pertain to your trip out there in the next couple of days:
We dug a hole around lunch time and found a series of moderate test results all within the newer snow ( over a meter in the last few days). There was one that stuck out a little more than others, this moderate shear was down 55cm. It was in an interface that didn't really jump out at us visually while doing the profile.
We didn't see anything slide out there but skied quite conservatively. There was some cracking and propagation in isolated lee pockets in the alpine. On the bright side things were settling out really fast. Foot penetration went from 90+cms in the morning to 40cm in the late afternoon. I didn't really chat about it with the other guys a the end of the day, but I would call it CONSIDERABLE in the alpine and MODERATE at treeline.
Alpine temperatures hovered around -3 to -5 for most of the day, it snowed off and on, less than 10cm throughout the day. Winds were light to moderate from the SE.
Although there were 180cms where we dug our pit (6300ft), several areas still have rocks and trees sticking through.
Whistler Patrol will still have a day or two of avalanche control work to do out in the east before they open the Harmony and the new Flute Chair. Check in to be sure of the safest route out that way. Also plan on an hour in the base area to get a backcountry pass, everyone is lining up to get their seasons' passes and edge cards.
On the ski down Whistler Mountain there were several unmarked hazards that the crews just haven't gotten to yet, so stay attentive until you are at the Pub.
Conny Amelunxen
Mountain Guide,
ACMG
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