Pascal trees

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Deep powder
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Cut blocks
• Dense trees
• Mellow slopes

We stayed away from:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes
• Sunny slopes

The day was:

• Sunny
• Warm

Avalanche conditions

• Slab avalanches today or yesterday.
• 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.
• Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.
• Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Skiing at Chief Pascal today. Climbed from cerise crk parking lot towards the NE Ridge 3/4 to the end of the treeline. At that 1200m beside the cutblock we heard and felt loud whumpfing and a 1-3" immediate drop underneath our skin track. At this point we continued to skin in the forest along the cut block continuing NE to our destination, observing a 2nd whumpfing along the cutblock and tree level. At 1480m we heard and felt a 3rd loud whumpfing and decided to dig a pit and evaluate before proceeding. After doing a solid compression test, we decided that the conditions were not safe for steeper/continued skiing. The temperature was -7C at the parking and began to warm up with the onset of the sun and prevailing winds approx 0C.

-COMPRESSION TEST

1,482 meters - NW aspect - Mid-tree line, moderate/tight trees - 30 degree slope - clear sunny skies - Winds Light - Temperature above 0C

Results:

1st Test: CTM6 Sudden planar - surface hoar - up to 10mm crystals - 65cm cm down