Size 4.5 avalanche near Revelstoke

[AlexC]

For anyone who's been to Revelstoke, you may have seen the massive west face of Mount Cartier - the peak south of the ski hill. The Greenslide path runs from the summit of the mountain, 7,000 feet to the valley below. I've been up there on a bike (there's a trail to the summit) and it's intimidating to say the least. There's a road along the valley with avalanche warning signs, even though it goes through a nice forest.

Well, today, Mar. 9, the Greenslide went, and went big: http://www.revelstoketimesreview.com...249221491.html

The Canadian Avalanche Centre is calling it a size 4.5 avalanche, which is about as big as it gets. Here's an aerial photo:



Here's a picture looking down the Greenslide in summer, by Bruno Long:

[LeeLau]

Alex - thanks for that

Here's Greenslide from across the water



SUre looks purty but I sure wasn't going near it this year

[nickinbc]

Wanted to see that go big for some time. The results did not disappoint!

Somehow think our decision to cancel a trip to the Asulkan this weekend might have been a good one.

[Gunder]

Flew over it today. Impressive to say the least!

[bloski]

"Avalanche risk forces cancellation of Freeride World Tour comp in Revelstoke"

Organizers of the Revelstoke stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour (FWT) say avalanche danger isn't likely to clear up within the scheduled Mar. 10–15 competition window, forcing them to cancel the Revelstoke stop of the tour.

In a statement released on the evening of Mar. 10, Revelstoke Mountain Resort sales and marketing director Ashley Tait said the ski resort supported the call. “Revelstoke Mountain Resort supports the decision by the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face event organizers to cancel the event. While the in-bound skiing at the resort is excellent, the existing avalanche conditions are wide-spread across the backcountry in western North America. Safety for the athletes and staff involved in the event continue to be a top priority.”

Bryan Barlow is the FWT event director for the Americals. “Our staff and management are committed to doing everything possible to put on world-class freeride competitions. However, this is an example of how tough decisions must be made in favour of athlete and staff safety. Fans, staff and athletes all love the venue at Revelstoke. We look forward to many future competitions here.”

The cancellation comes the same day as an avalanche incident in the Montana Bowl area on Mar. 10. The sidecountry skiing area is located in the Mount Mackenzie backcountry, outside of the Revelstoke Mountain Resort boundary rope.

RMR ski patrollers responded to an incident just after 1 p.m. when a male skier triggered an avalanche in Montana Bowl. He was found at the scene with his airbag deployed.

Patrollers mounted a search of the debris field – radio reports put it at about a category 3 avalanche – but turned up nothing. Rescuers were concerned about two skiers the man had seen skiing below him just prior to the incident. They were located safe not long after, so a probe-line and dog search was called off.

Heavy snowfall last week was followed by warm and wet Pineapple Express weather system over the weekend, causing heightened avalanche danger. For example, the changes sent the locally famous Greenslide avalanche on Mt. Cartier into a full path slide, which isn't a common occurrence.

The cancellation of the tour stop follows the postponement of the originally-scheduled stop here in late December, when conditions also forced its cancellation. That time, the culprit was lack of adequate snow cover on the venue.

http://www.revelstoketimesreview.com...249372691.html

[kootenayskier]

Massive slide opened up a new path in the Nelson Range (Southern BC) yesterday, blocking our access road. Expect it wasn't the only one in these parts.

[nickinbc]

Only half of the path slid! Was talking to the landowner today and in 1972 it was 110 FEET deep on the road - i.e level with the top of the trees in the aerial photo (seen a photo and believe it). That time it took 16 days to get the road re-opened - two days this time using less machinery.

[userA]

"Avalanche risk forces cancellation of Freeride World Tour comp in Revelstoke"

Organizers of the Revelstoke stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour (FWT) say avalanche danger isn't likely to clear up within the scheduled Mar. 10–15 competition window, forcing them to cancel the Revelstoke stop of the tour.

In a statement released on the evening of Mar. 10, Revelstoke Mountain Resort sales and marketing director Ashley Tait said the ski resort supported the call. “Revelstoke Mountain Resort supports the decision by the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face event organizers to cancel the event. While the in-bound skiing at the resort is excellent, the existing avalanche conditions are wide-spread across the backcountry in western North America. Safety for the athletes and staff involved in the event continue to be a top priority.”

Bryan Barlow is the FWT event director for the Americals. “Our staff and management are committed to doing everything possible to put on world-class freeride competitions. However, this is an example of how tough decisions must be made in favour of athlete and staff safety. Fans, staff and athletes all love the venue at Revelstoke. We look forward to many future competitions here.”

The cancellation comes the same day as an avalanche incident in the Montana Bowl area on Mar. 10. The sidecountry skiing area is located in the Mount Mackenzie backcountry, outside of the Revelstoke Mountain Resort boundary rope.

RMR ski patrollers responded to an incident just after 1 p.m. when a male skier triggered an avalanche in Montana Bowl. He was found at the scene with his airbag deployed.

Patrollers mounted a search of the debris field – radio reports put it at about a category 3 avalanche – but turned up nothing. Rescuers were concerned about two skiers the man had seen skiing below him just prior to the incident. They were located safe not long after, so a probe-line and dog search was called off.

Heavy snowfall last week was followed by warm and wet Pineapple Express weather system over the weekend, causing heightened avalanche danger. For example, the changes sent the locally famous Greenslide avalanche on Mt. Cartier into a full path slide, which isn't a common occurrence.

The cancellation of the tour stop follows the postponement of the originally-scheduled stop here in late December, when conditions also forced its cancellation. That time, the culprit was lack of adequate snow cover on the venue.

http://www.revelstoketimesreview.com...249372691.html

got to wonder if the huge slide yesterday at crystal mtn. influenced their decision, it's not that far away.
b

[Atrain505]

got to wonder if the huge slide yesterday at crystal mtn. influenced their decision, it's not that far away.
b

^The answer to this question is a resounding no. Different climates. Different regions. Completely different. 10+ hours away. TGR is up here filming and we've been in close contact with the lead avy forecaster this whole trip. He told us yesterday one slope went just from dropping the bomb. The bomb didn't explode until the slide had reached the bottom.
Basically a ton of snow on weak layers from prolonged early winter drought followed by the first major warming event of the year is a recipe for bad things. Feel horrible for the competitors. But big faces are definitely to be avoided up here for now. We shot a booter today.

[Shadam]

again today we had many many settlements and lots of sliding snow. we were only on little feature on our fav ridge but cracks and releases were everywhere. remote triggers have not settled down today.

they made the right decision ...