MARCH 27, 1997 SOUTH COAST & VANCOUVER ISLAND WEATHER: On Wednesday the temperature range at 2000m was -2 to -5degrees in a continued west to south-west flow that looks like it will change little right through the Easter period. Snow amounts in the alpine have been from 2 to 5cm each day in snow showers with moderate to strong winds. SNOWPACK: Cool temperatures and fairly persistent cloud cover have slowed the spring transition process. In the near surface layers moderate shears are reported in the new slab but each day the older layer seems to tighten in a bit more. That doesn't sound like much of a spring report. In clear breaks the sun does weaken surface layer quickly especially at lower elevations. Rain fell below 1500m and the snowpack is slowly warming in the alpine but not isothermal yet. On Thursday morning explosives control produced good results on cornices. AVALANCHES: A cornice collapse on Decker Mountain produced a size 3 avalanche, this event resulted in excellent photographs and a stimulating learning experience for the person who was standing on the edge. Frequency of avalanches is not great but there are some late winter surprises still lingering. DANGER: MODERATE, frequency of avalanches will increase with any direct radiation. TRAVEL ADVISORY: A shy observer reported excellent ski and travel conditions last week in an area rumoured to be near the Pantheon Range, no further details available. Sounds like there are still some good winter conditions to be found. The Smithers area reports concern about buried surface hoar. BULLETIN SPONSORED BY: LIFE-LINK NORTH COLUMBIA WEATHER: A big wind week, too windy to land and take off helicopters in some alpine parts of the Selkirks. At 2000m temperatures in the daytime going above freezing and down to -5degrees at night. New snow amounts from 5-15cm each day in snow showers on more westerly upslope locations. Easter weather forecast calls for a continuation of the unsettled westerly flow. SNOWPACK: In the alpine, wind hammered windward slopes and hard slabs on the lee. The near surface slab does not show easy shear characteristics but the older sun/rain crust from earlier in March is still cause for concern in isolated locations. Moist snow below 1500m and overnight surface crusts that break down by late morning and do not support a skier. There are some reports of corn snow conditions in higher cut blocks. AVALANCHES: One size 3.5 natural avalanche reported during the week in south Albert Creek, a few size 3 avalanches and numerous size 2, mostly in more northerly parts of the region around Valemount to Mica. DANGER: CONSIDERABLE in the alpine TRAVEL ADVISORY: It is hard to find any good snowmobile or ski conditions, glacier travel and moderate alpine terrain offer the best opportunity for getting out and not worrying about wind effected snow and tricky avalanche evaluation conditions. MARCH 27, 1997 SOUTH COLUMBIA WEATHER: There's something curious here. The south Columbia and Rockies seem to have more advanced spring conditions than the coast and north Columbias. Freezing level up to 2500m in the daytime on Wednesday and cooling to -5 to -8degrees at night. There have been light to moderate new snow amounts in the alpine. Moderate to strong alpine winds from the south and south west look like they will continue through the weekend. Sunny breaks are more likely on eastern parts of the main ranges. SNOWPACK: Sun crusts, wind slabs and wind effected slopes are the most common surface condition in the alpine. These are sitting on a variety of deeper sun and rain crusts with fairly dense snow in between. Large cornices have been formed in the alpine specially around the Bugaboos area. Lower elevations starting to show signs of spring in an isothermal snowpack, moist surface snow to 2200m even on north aspect. Shears and deeper instabilities are not being reported but there are areas with depth hoar and these may be more of a problem with continued warming. AVALANCHES: Isolated and extremely variable distribution of large avalanches. The Bugaboos had size 3 & 4 avalanches on Wednesday. DANGER: MODERATE TRAVEL ADVISORY: Easter weekend and it's hard to choose a good destination based on reasonable stability and good travel conditions. Inside the ski area boundaries, glacier travel and moderate alpine terrain offer the best opportunities. BULLETIN SPONSORED BY: LIFE-LINK ROCKIES WEATHER: Strong westerly winds in the central part of the region from the Columbia Icefields south to Assiniboine. New snow amounts continue to accumulate with up to half metre in southern Jasper Park and lesser amounts around Sunshine, Kananaskis and Assiniboine. Scattered clouds for most of the weekend and dry conditions in most areas except just west of the Divide which can expect to have snow showers. SNOWPACK: The huge winds have been the dominant feature for the period. Large cornices, heavy wind effect of windward slopes and slab formation on the lee side. For the Wapta, the lower elevation approaches, like Sherbrooke are near spring conditions. Unconsolidated moist snow in the daytime and without some overnight cooling there will be no recovery. Above 1700m depth hoar is still evident but not reported to be failing in field tests. Further south around Fernie there are meltfreeze crusts in the alpine. Below treeline this crusts deteriorates quickly each day. AVALANCHES: Several large cornice failures reported up to the size of a VW van. Limited observations in the alpine of Kananaskis due to low cloud. Around Fernie lots of skier triggered snowballing. DANGER: CONSIDERABLE in the alpine TRAVEL ADVISORY: This is the beginning of high season for the haute route travellers. Approaches and descent from the high cols will need careful evaluation and safe travel techniques.