Windy on Mt Fernie

Quick report

Weather

windy

Ride Type

steepSlopes, openTrees, convexSlopes

Stayed Away

sunnySlopes

Riding Quality

good

Snow Conditions

powder, windAffected

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSlab

Moderate SW wind at ridge top on Mt Fernie, moderate blowing snow loading N and NE slopes. 1 x Sa wind slab size 1.5, NE aspect at 2000m. Rider was able to stay on bed surface at the top. Slab was 30cm deep. Evidence of old storm slab from N and E alpine features, up to size 2.5. Rode over soft debris at the bottom. We started early in anticipation for the forecasted warm up, but the wind kept temps below -2C. Great skiing on N aspect if you can avoid the wind slab at the top.

Weather

Avg Temp

-2

Wind Speed

windSpeedModerate

Blowing Snow

moderate

Sky Condition

brokenClouds

Wind Direction

SW

New Snow24 Hours

0

Storm Start Date

2026-01-08

Storm Snow Amount

30

Temperature Trend

rising

Precipitation Type

none

Snowpack

Obs Type

summary

Site Aspect

N, NE

Test Fracture

sudden

Test Initiation

moderate

Cracking Observed

1

Test Failure Depth

31

Site Elevation Band

tln

Surface Conditions

variable

Test Failure Layer Crystal Types

stormSnow

Variable surface conditions with 30cm of F dense snow in sheltered areas and 4F wind packed snow in open area. This sits on a thin grauple layer, 3-4mm. Multiple MFcr down 50-60cm and 75-80cm. Well settled lower snowpack. At 1715m, NE sheltered tree-lined CTM 19 (SP) down 31cm on PPgp 3mm ECTN 25 down 31cm on PPgp 3mm

Avalanche

Run Length

100

Slab Width

15

Trigger Type

skier

Wind Exposure

leeSlope

Avalanche Size

1.5

Slab Thickness

30

Trigger Sub Type

accidental

Start Zone Aspect

NE

Vegetation Cover

sparseTrees

Start Zone Incline

35

Avalanche Character

windSlab

Number Of Avalanches

1

Start Zone Elevation

2000

Weak Layer Crystal Type

stormSnow

Start Zone Elevation Band

tln

Avalanche Occurrence Datetime

2026-01-10T17:30:00.000Z

Sa size 1.5 wind slab, no involvement. Triggered at the top of the shoot on NE aspect at 2000m. Slab was 20-30cm deep, 15m wide and ran 100m.