Snow Report March 20th.

Apparently it’s snowing up top but with temperatures of plus 3 up top it’s not gonna be powder. The rain came in hard yesterday and continued through the night and its raining pretty heavily still…the hardcore among you get up top and enjoy it.

Backcountry Travel Advisory:

Temperatures are definitely warming up with plus 3 measured at the top of Happo this morning. There are big holes & cracks showing and South faces are starting to look devastated. Lots of water sliding under cracks and supported slopes are sitting on cracks and water. Still keep an eye on are those South faces that are waiting to come down with these temperature rises and with this rain on the slopes. It is still important to time traverses under South slopes early in the day or on days of cool temperatures. North Faces high in the alpine have not been receiving the same solar radiation and snow temps are still cool. Be careful of intense wind loading on the Northern aspects high in the Alpine. Cornices are big and will come down with the heat and rain.

Watch solar radiated slopes, around rocks and cornices as they warm through the day.

Avalanche Hazard:

Alpine: Moderate
Tree line: Moderate
Below Tree Line: Considerable

See Below for International Danger scale classifications or click on the Canadian Avalanche Association web page for the International Danger Scale.

International Danger Scale

TEMPERATURE IN THE VILLAGE:

3.5 degrees C.

TEMPERATURE AT TOP OF MOUNTAIN:

3 degrees C.

WIND:

Calm.

VISIBILITY:

Average due to rain & snow.

*******************************************

Goryu/47:

BASE DEPTH:105 cm(at the base); 280 cm(at 1500m)

********************************************

LIFT OPERATION:

Goryu Toomi, Hakuba 47, Happo-One, Tsugaike Kogen, Iwatake, Cortina, Sanosaka, Sun Alpina, Minekata, Hakuba Highland, Yanaba, all open