CHIC-CHOCS SNOW BULLETIN 	

Date Issued : Wednesday April 15 2009
Valid until : Friday April 17 2009

Weather : A ridge of high pressure will prevail over the region until Friday afternoon. Moderate 
to strong winds will remain out of the N, N-O. Cloud cover will only increase significantly Friday 
afternoon. However, temperatures will be on a cooling trend varying from -5°C at night in the 
valley to a daily high of 2°C. No precipitation is forecast until next week. 
 
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 :
 
			ALPINE		SUBALPINE
			
Thursday	Moderate	Moderate

Friday		Moderate	Moderate 

Mountain travel information : 

Easter was once again brought a good quantity of snow to the area. Certain sectors report up 
to 90cm. Since then, spring like meteorological factors rapidly reshaped the snowpack. Strong 
winds from the N, NO transported this snow from ridge top to mid slope. These areas may contain 
a reactive slab. The later is generally well settled and is bonding well the underlying melt 
freeze crust. However it is very variable in distribution and thickness. Suspect areas are where 
the slab is thinner and has less support. Be cautious of areas with likely trigger points like 
rocks and trees as well as sharp convexities. A special worry persists in the subalpine. It is 
possible that in certain areas above the freezing level and northerly facing may preserve unstable 
snow characteristics such as a slab over a crust. Be aware of changing elevations and aspects as 
well as changing snow conditions under your feet. The complexities of a winter snowpack are still 
present in the Chic-Choc mountains.

Avalanche activity : 

On April 14th,a person accidentally triggered and was carried by a size 2.0 avalanche at 750m  on 
a North Est subalpine slope on the Mont Médaille in the Notre Dame Mountains. To our understanding, 
the Easter storm snow was triggered by the person themselves and ran on the underlying melt-freeze 
crust. 

Snowpack : The surface is a mix bag of snow types worked by the wind, sun and heat. The Easter 
crust is exposed at ridge crest and other area under direct fire from the N, N-O winds. Sheltered 
areas collected up to 70cm (possibly more in specific terrain features) over this crust. This snow 
is defined by a laminate of wind slabs and supports the weight of a skier. Solar effect has been 
maintained at a minimum by the cooling winds. Cold snow persist in some alpine and treeline areas. 
Under the 700m freezing line, the snow is moist and gradually transitions towards wet as one 
travels lower down valley.

Prepared by : Philippe Gautier

Disclaimer: This snow bulletin is prepared with the most recent weather, snowpack and avalanche 
activity data available for the Chic-Chocs. This is an information and decision making tool and 
is not intended to be a replacement for user’s knowledge about snow safety basics and backcountry 
equipment including beacon, shovel and probe.