It has been excellent skiing and snowmobiling, we have experienced two weeks of Low Avalanche Hazard. This a rarity for this time of year and I hope you all enjoyed it to its fullest.

Snowpack Features

• There is still the December 29 surface hoar is lingering 60-90cm down but this layer is presently none reactive to human and snowmobile. The fact that the layer still exists means that we must not forget about it. Warming and large amounts of new snow could bring this layer back to life.

• We have just recently had up to 20cm of new snow it is overlying old snow surfaces including the Jan 30th Surface Hoar, Freezing Rain Crust and Facets.

• There has been light to moderate winds in the Alpine and Treeline these winds are developing wind slabs.

Observations

• Skiing and snowmobiling before the new snow was only producing sluffing (smaller loose snow avalanches) in the steeper terrain

• Tunnel Creek area before the new snow fell had a crust with Surface Hoar over it, this layer was on all aspects it is not a good mix with new snow and winds.

• Skiing steeper terrain on February 2 was producing new snow sluffing to size 1.5 in gullied features.

• Natural sluffing in steep rocky terrain.

Recreational Tips

• Ski and snowmobile one at a time on steeper terrain avoiding steep gullied features, try to always stop on ridge features(higher ground) when you stop to regroup.

• Expect sluffing in steep terrain and let it pass, look behind yourself occasionally to see if there is a larger sluff coming down behind you.

• With additional new snow (more new snow over the 20cm we just had) expect the Avalanche Hazard to rise.

• Keep an eye out for wind slabs developing especially if the winds pick up.

• Nick Morris grew up in the Elk Valley in a skiing family, he has been working in the avalanche industry for 20 years and is an Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) Ski Guide. To book backcountry trips or an avalanche skills course call 250-423-8644 or see www.snowvalleyguiding.com

Nick will be reporting weekly on the local snow conditions. If you have any questions for him, email freepress@shawcable.com or call 250-423-4666.

• Win an avalanche skill course or a day of ski guiding with Nick by signing up for our Prepare to Love Winter campaign! Visit www.thefreepress.ca/prepare for details

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