<![CDATA[CHIC-CHOCS Snow bulletin]]> <![CDATA[Chic-Chocs snow bulletin, April 23th 2010]]>
Date Issued : Friday April 23th 2010 at 18 h.
Valid until :  December 2010
Area of concern : This snow bulletin covers certain areas of the Chic-Chocs including Mt. Albert, Mt. Hog’s Back, Champs-de-Mars, Mt. Blanche-Lamontagne, Mt. Lyall, Mt.Vallières-de-Saint-Réal and the Mines Madeleine.
 
Forecast of avalanche danger : SPRING 2010 : VARIABLE
In springtime, snow stability varies with freezing (night) and melt (day) cycles. Without overnight freezing, the snowpack is deteriorating quickly just as the stability. At this time of the year, be particularly careful of cornice falls.
 
Winter report :  The 2009-10 season was quite busy at the Haute-Gaspésie Avalanche Centre in spite of a late start and unusual warm and low snow winter in the Chic-Chocs. Our activities started at fall with numerous public avalanche awareness outreaches such as conferences and booths in selected films festivals, outdoor events and specialized retail stores across the province. The professional training program for the Avalanche Centre staff and growing backcountry ski industry in Quebec was loaded with professional development opportunities like ISSW conference in Davos (Sept 28 to Oct 2), advanced search and rescue training with Manuel Genswein (Dec 12-13) and CAA’s Introductory Weather Skills (Nov 7-8) and Ski Operations Level 1 (Jan 4-10) courses in the Chic-Chocs. The forecasting program issued 59 bilingual snow bulletins from Dec 4 to April 23 including daily bulletins during spring break from Feb 26 to March 8. The guidebook project for backcountry runs in the Chic-Chocs is almost completed and we are expecting to release it for the beginning of next season. Finally, the Haute-Gaspésie Avalanche Centre was recently recognized by CSST (Quebec’s workers safety board) for the implementation over the last two seasons of an Integrated Safety Plan for our field operations in the Chic-Chocs.
 
Avalanche activity : Numerous natural avalanches cycles were observed during the winter following storms or thaw and rain episodes with a noticeable size 3 (can bury and destroy a car, damage a truck and destroy a small building) in the Grand Mur in mount Albert during the December 23 thaw. Some avalanches triggered by skiers or snowboarder were reported with fortunately no incident with injured person.
 
Snowpack : A total 230 cm of snow was recorded at the Discovery and Services Centre (DSC) study plot compare to 350 cm at the same location last year. In general, this winter snowpack correspond to 50% of the normal snowfalls for the region. The South sectors (Hog’s Back, Champs-de-Mars, Blanche-Lamontagne, Vallières and Lyall) received very little snow compare to the Mines Madeleine area where conditions were far more interesting. Numerous melt-freeze crusts formed after thaw and rain episodes were observed in the snowpack and followed throughout the winter due to the formation of persistent weak layers above and below the ice crust.
 
Weather : Winter has started in December in the Chic-Chocs with a series of storm leaving about 80% of season snowfalls between mid-December and mid-February. Some thaw and rain episodes occurred during this period in particularly on December 23, January 4 and 26 and February 19. Spring has arrived as soon as mid-February with temperatures around freezing point in February, numerous days between 5 and 10 Celsius in March, a warmth record during Easter Weekend (20 Celsius) followed by warm and rainy days for most part of April.
 
Messages : This is the last Chic-Chocs snow bulletin for winter 2009-10. Just as we write those lines, there is a about 5 cm of snow remaining at the DSC, you have to walk all the access trail to the Mur des Patrouilleurs and you can drive the road to Mines Madeleine ONLY on the first 1,5 km. The Avalanche Centre team would like to thank you for you interest and support throughout the winter. We really appreciated your comments by email. We wish you a pleasant summer while waiting and dreaming of the next ski season in the Chic-Chocs !!! Thanks again and see you next year.
 
Prepared by : Dominic Boucher
 
Disclaimer : This snow bulletin is prepared with the most recent weather, snowpack and avalanche activity data available for the Chic-Chocs. It is strictly information that can be used as a part of a decision making process and is not intended to be a replacement for knowledge about avalanche safety including and not limited to safe travel practices and the use of backcountry rescue equipment such as beacon, shovel and probe.
]]> Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:03:50 -0400 <![CDATA[Chic-Chocs snow bulletin, April 16th 2010]]>  
Date Issued : Friday April 16th 2010 at 18 h.
Valid until :  Friday April 23rd 2010 at 18 h.
 
Area of concern : This snow bulletin covers Mt. Albert and the Mines Madeleine
Areas where alpine touring is not an option anymore : Mt. Hog’s Back, Champs-de-Mars, Mt. Blanche-Lamontagne, Mt. Lyall, Mt.Vallières-de-Saint-Réal.
 
Forecast of avalanche danger :
 
Period
 
ALPINE
MODERATE
 
SUBALPINE
LOW
 
 
Mountain travel information :  Our first concern is the rain forecasted for Sunday to Monday which will deteriorate the snow stability especially in the Madeleine Mines sector on wind sheltered slopes where there is up to 30 cm of fluffier snow. Use extra caution in these conditions since avalanches could be triggered in this snow loaded with rain. Saturday will be the day to enjoy some spring skiing conditions on Mount Albert!  As from Tuesday, the stability conditions will vary according to the effect of heat and solar radiation through the day. Be alert to the very significant instabilities signs like recent avalanches. The ski penetration depth in wet snow (ankle, knee) is also a good indicator of thaw instability. The Mur des Patrouilleurs is skiable, but it’s getting more and more difficult to travel (see photo and video). Cornice fall in the Mur des Patrouilleurs is also a concern.  The road of the Madeleine Mines is not yet open for cars or trucks.
 
Avalanche activity : No new avalanches were observed. Your observations can help us greatly to improve this bulletin. (by email or telephone at 418-763-7791 #223).
 
Snowpack : In the Alpine couloirs of Mont Albert and Madeleine Mines have a melt-freeze crust conditions or snow transformed by heat and sunlight depending on the aspect. Small isolated wind slabs may have formed in the upper leeward alpine slopes in the Mines and could present a risk of localized avalanches that can be triggered by a skier or snowboarder.  In this same area, a 5 to 30 cm layer of dryer snow from the storm last weekend covers a melt-freeze crust in the subalpine.
 
Weather : A depression should be over the Gaspé region on Saturday night leaving us a trace of snow on Sunday morning and then 10 to 15 mm of rain. All this will be accompanied by strong winds from the E. This system will affect us until Tuesday. For the remainder of the period, the systems are lacking structure, but it looks like we could get more rain.
 
Snowfall and snowpack (cm) :
Height
Last 24h
Last 48h
Last 7 days
In the valley (Gîte) @ 230 m.
26 cm
0 cm
0 cm
4 cm
Mount Albert (Serpentine) @ 560 m.
61 cm
Last report : April 16th
Mount Hog’s Back (South summit) @ 800 m.
ND
ND
Mines Madeleine @ 750 m.
157 cm
Last report : April 12th
 
Messages : With the advanced spring conditions in the mountains and the slowing down of the winter activities in the region, the frequency of snow bulletins is reduced until the end of the season. For the next three weeks, a bulletin will be issued every Friday with updates on Monday if the conditions require it.
 
 
Prepared by : Stéphanie Lemieux
 
 
Disclaimer : This snow bulletin is prepared with the most recent weather, snowpack and avalanche activity data available for the Chic-Chocs. It is strictly information that can be used as a part of a decision making process and is not intended to be a replacement for knowledge about avalanche safety including and not limited to safe travel practices and the use of backcountry rescue equipment such as beacon, shovel and probe.
 
]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:41:25 -0400 <![CDATA[Chic-Chocs snow bulletin, April 12th 2010]]>
Date Issued : Monday April 12th 2010 at 18 h.
Valid until :  Friday April 16th 2010 at 18 h.
Area of concern : This snow bulletin covers certain areas of the Chic-Chocs including Mt. Albert, Mt. Hog’s Back, Champs-de-Mars, Mt. Blanche-Lamontagne, Mt. Lyall, Mt.Vallières-de-Saint-Réal and the Mines Madeleine.
 
Forecast of avalanche danger :
 
Period
 
ALPINE
MODERATE
 
SUBALPINE
LOW
 
 
Mountain travel information :  The large amount of rain (25-50 mm) that fell in the night from Friday to Saturday has contributed to further deterioration in the snowpack at low elevations. In addition to the S sectors (Champs de Mars, Hog's Back, Blanche Lamontagne, Vallieres and Lyall) that are already unskiable, the access trail to Mount Albert shows serious signs of thawing which may complicate travel.  It is possible to find some new snow in the couloirs and sheltered slopes on Mount Albert and Madeleine Mines (up to 30 cm over the weekend in the Mines !!!). A melt-freeze crust or sun affected snow is also present where the strong westerly winds scoured the slopes. Small isolated wind slabs may have formed in the leeward start zones and pose a risk for localised avalanches that can be triggered by a skier or snowboarder. The return of the sunshine with temperatures in the normal range for the next few days should soften the crust enough on the southern slopes to find interesting spring skiing conditions. The road to the Mines Madeleine is not yet accessible in a car or truck.
 
Avalanche activity : No new avalanches were observed. Your observations can help us greatly to improve this bulletin. (by email or telephone at 418-763-7791 #223).
 
Snowpack : A 5 to 30 cm thick storm snow layer covers a melt-freeze crust that formed with the cool temperatures during the weekend. This new snow is moist where it touches the crust and dry in its upper part. The melt-freeze crust is on the surface in places that have been scoured by strong winds from the W during the day Sunday. At lower elevations, the snowpack is in a state of advanced deterioration (several areas are inaccessible and are no longer skiable) and spring skiing conditions can be found in the alpine.
 
Weather : Following the deluge which left between 25 and 50 mm of rain over the region Friday night to Saturday, it fell from 5 to 30 cm of snow in the mountains depending on the sector. The sky cleared today and the sunny conditions, but cooler, will continue for several days. The clouds will return late in the week with a possibly of showers for the weekend.
 
Snowfall and snowpack (cm) :
Height
Last 24h
Last 48h
Last 7 days
In the valley (Gîte) @ 230 m.
35 cm
3 cm
4 cm
4 cm
Mount Albert (Serpentine) @ 560 m.
112 cm
Last report : March 31st
Mount Hog’s Back (South summit) @ 800 m.
ND
ND
Mines Madeleine @ 750 m.
157 cm
Last report : April 12th
 
Messages : With the advanced spring conditions in the mountains and the slowing down of the winter activities in the region, the frequency of snow bulletins is reduced until the end of the season. For the next three weeks, a bulletin will be issued every Friday with updates on Monday if the conditions require it.
 
Prepared by : Dominic Boucher
 
Disclaimer : This snow bulletin is prepared with the most recent weather, snowpack and avalanche activity data available for the Chic-Chocs. It is strictly information that can be used as a part of a decision making process and is not intended to be a replacement for knowledge about avalanche safety including and not limited to safe travel practices and the use of backcountry rescue equipment such as beacon, shovel and probe.
]]> Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:11:26 -0400 <![CDATA[Chic-Chocs snow bulletin, April 9th 2010]]>  
Date Issued : Friday April 9th 2010 at 18 h.
Valid until :  Friday April 16th 2010 at 18 h.
Area of concern : This snow bulletin covers certain areas of the Chic-Chocs including Mt. Albert, Mt. Hog’s Back, Champs-de-Mars, Mt. Blanche-Lamontagne, Mt. Lyall, Mt.Vallières-de-Saint-Réal and the Mines Madeleine.
 
Forecast of avalanche danger :
 
Saturday
Sunday
Rest of the period
 
ALPINE
CONSIDERABLE
MODERATE
MODERATE
 
SUBALPINE
MODERATE
LOW
LOW
 
 
Mountain travel information : We can expect from the rainfall warning on the region Friday night to Saturday afternoon that several rivers will flood and make the snow conditions unstable during this period. As well as creating thaw instability in the snowpack, more obstacles will appear at the surface from the melting (see snowpack section). Prepare yourself well and be careful if you want to brave the storm this weekend. Then, a melt-freeze cycle will start from Monday until further notice. The nice spring skiing conditions will follow the sun facing slopes and avalanche hazards will evolve according to the state of surface melting of the snowpack. The more you sink into the wet snow (ankle or knee deep), the more the snow has a good potential to create wet avalanches. Mount Albert is now re-opened, which is the only place with enough snow to ski along with the Madeleine Mines.
 
Avalanche activity : No new avalanches were observed. Your observations can help us greatly to improve this bulletin. (by email or telephone at 418-763-7791 #223).
 
Snowpack : A thick melt-freeze crust covered the majority of the mountains today. The coming rain will melt it and give slushy conditions on all slopes Saturday. The snowpack temperature profile is nearly isothermal and the less permeable March 17 crust is still present at around 20 cm deep. Until it melts, its surface along with the water percolating on it will provide a sliding plane for the snow on top. Traces of snow could fall Sunday creating small windslabs on the E facing slopes. The shaded slopes could remain crusty.
 
Weather : 30 mm of rain is expected by tomorrow. Winds will be strong to extreme from the W sector through the  weekend. Starting saturday night, temperatures will be slightly below the freezing point from and go up to 5 and 7 in the pm for the rest of the week. The complete forecast (in French) until Tuesday is HERE.
 
Snowfall and snowpack (cm) :
Height
Last 24h
Last 48h
Last 7 days
In the valley (Gîte) @ 230 m.
33 cm
0
0 cm
 11 cm
Mount Albert (Serpentine) @ 560 m.
112 cm
Last report : March 31st 2010
Mount Hog’s Back (South summit) @ 800 m.
ND
 
Mines Madeleine @ 750 m.
134 cm
Last report : April 9th 2010
 
Messages : Pay attention to the validity dates of future snow bulletins, they will change as needed according to weather conditions.
 
 
Prepared by : Stéphanie Lemieux
 
 
Disclaimer : This snow bulletin is prepared with the most recent weather, snowpack and avalanche activity data available for the Chic-Chocs. It is strictly information that can be used as a part of a decision making process and is not intended to be a replacement for knowledge about avalanche safety including and not limited to safe travel practices and the use of backcountry rescue equipment such as beacon, shovel and probe.
 
 
]]> Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:12:41 -0400 <![CDATA[Chic-Chocs snow bulletin, April 5th 2010]]>
Date Issued : Monday April 5th, 2010 at 18 h.
Valid until : Friday April 9th, 2010 at 18 h.
Area of concern : This snow bulletin covers certain areas of the Chic-Chocs including Mt. Albert, Mt. Hog’s Back, Champs-de-Mars, Mt. Blanche-Lamontagne, Mt. Lyall, Mt.Vallières-de-Saint-Réaland the Mines Madeleine.
 
Forecast of avalanche danger :
 
PERIOD
 
 
 
ALPINE
MODERATE
 
 
 
SUBALPINE
LOW
 
 
 
 
Mountain travel information : After a warm and sunny weekend in the mountains, ski conditions which was already precarious and some areas (Champs de Mars, Hog’s Back, Blanche Lamontagne, Vallières and Lyall) became impracticable for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Snowpack on slopes of those mountains is now in a state of advanced thaw making travelling difficult and dangerous in the rocks. In areas at higher elevation (Mont Albert, Mines Madeleine), snow is still covering most part on the slopes and spring conditions should improve in the next days with return of temperatures to the normals for the period. The access trail to Mont Albert is still close until further notice due to creek overflowing and flood and the road to Mines Madeleine is impassable with car and truck. The Mont Albert should be open later this week and you should call the Discovery and services center at 418-763-7494 ext 3301 for a conditions report before getting there.
 
Avalanche activity : Slab avalanche (size 2) was observed today in a starting zone of the Cuve Speciale in Mont Albert. Numerous cornice falls also happened in the Mur des Patrouilleurs during the weekend. Your observations can help us greatly to improve this bulletin (by email or phone at 418-763-7791 #223).
 
Snowpack : Spring and summer conditions over the weekend did affect a lot the snowpack. At the Discovery and services center weather plot in the Gîte du Mont Albert area, we recorded a decrease of the height of snowpack of about 15 cm throughout the weekend and 25 cm during the last week. As a result, the snowpack is in a state of advanced deterioration in the subalpine and spring conditions are found in the alpine.
 
Alpine Weather : Warm temperatures (up to 20 Celsius in the mountains) and sunny conditions throughout the weekend are now behind us and increasing cloudiness came over the region during the day. In spite of a return of temperatures close to the normals for the period, rain is expected for the coming days, even at high elevation. The forecasted amount of rain varies from 5 to 10 mm per day and up to 10-20 mm for Friday. However, colder temperatures could bring wet snow at higher elevation for Friday and over the weekend.
 
Snowfall and snowpack (cm) :
Height
Last 24h
Last 48h
Last 7 days
In the valley (Gîte) @ 230 m.
47 cm
0 cm
0 cm
7 cm
Mount Albert (Serpentine) @ 560 m.
112 cm
Last report on : March 31th
Mount Hog’s Back (South summit) @ 800 m.
ND
ND
Mines Madeleine @ 750 m.
200 cm
Last report on : March 30th
 
Messages : This year again, the Avalanche Awareness Days were a great success!!! We would like to thanks all the people who attend the event during the weekend and in particular our partners and donators for the silent auction that allow us to raise about 3000$ for the Canadian Avalanche Foundation. Thanks!!!
 
Prepared by :Dominic Boucher
 
Disclaimer : This snow bulletin is prepared with the most recent weather, snowpack and avalanche activity data available for the Chic-Chocs. It is strictly information that can be used as a part of a decision making process and is not intended to be a replacement for knowledge about avalanche safety including and not limited to safe travel practices and the use of backcountry rescue equipment such as beacon, shovel and probe.
]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:34:51 -0400