Snowflakes, fog and low visibility yesterday but the weekend brought blue skies and sunshine to the Hakuba valley. Some clouds are moving in however hanging around 1600m threatening to blot out the sun with -2.5 temperatures in Wadano at 8:00 and exactly 0 degrees now. Conditions on the skifields will be good with some views of the Alps, nice groomed runs and no wind to speak of at present. Expect relatively busy runs being good weather and the weekend.
Backcountry Travel Advisory:
Snowpack stability tests yesterday showed varied results on different aspects with N aspects showing no results, E aspects easily producing small sluffs and SE aspects cracked creating a small size 1 avalanche.
On E aspects there was some instability on the interface between Thursday and Friday’s new snow @ 1950m producing easy sluffs. There is around 15-40 cms of new snow sitting on top of the kosa layer from the 3rd with some underlying weakness then well bonded dense slabs below that.
Generally light winds have created an even layer of new snow deposited on all aspects though some wind deposited areas were noted on East lee slopes.
Take caution on steep E slopes, unsupported convexing terrain and loaded gullies. Use even more caution as temperatures rise through the day and stay away from rocks and sparse trees on solar aspects. Watch out as cornices heat up.
Avalanche Hazard:
Alpine: Considerable
Tree line: Moderate
Below Tree Line: Moderate
See Below for International Danger scale classifications or click on the Canadian Avalanche Association web page for the International Danger Scale.
TEMPERATURE IN THE VILLAGE:
-5 degrees C.
TEMPERATURE AT TOP OF MOUNTAIN:
-7 degrees C.
WIND:
Calm with some light Westerlies.
VISIBILITY:
Good
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Goryu/47:
BASE DEPTH:150 cm(at the base); 350 cm(at 1500m)
Happo-One:
BASE DEPTH:150 cm(at the base); 285 cm(at 1500m)
Tsugaike:
BASE DEPTH:330 cm(at the base); 230 cm(at 1500m)
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LIFT OPERATION:
Goryu Toomi, Hakuba 47, Happo-One, Tsugaike Kogen, Iwatake, Cortina, Sanosaka, Sun Alpina, Minekata, Hakuba Highland, Yanaba, all open