Went for a very short tour up the snowshoe trails on Mt Seymour today with an avalanche course. It is obvious they have been getting a lot of snow this season, with the snowpack reported as 280cm at the parking lot and 329cm at the summit (deeper than my probe). We dug a couple of quick pits in the trees and found 50cm storm snow fallen since yesterday overlying a 15cm thick crust caused by rain earlier in the week. We found a lower density layer 2cm thick overlying the crust producing moderate shears above this weaker layer, so it will be one to watch carefully over the next few days, particularly with the forecast warming trend and rain. Expect soft slab avalanches in steep terrain. The North Shore avalanche bulletin raised the danger rating to "High" this morning after heavier than expected snowfalls.
Alex Geary
Assistant Ski Guide
Are you a PC? Upload your PC story and show the world Click Here!