With the current winds plus snow available for transport, watch for dangerous avalanche conditions on specific terrain such as cross-loaded or wind-loaded slopes, Northwest to Northeast aspects, and where local terrain directs windloading patterns. Early season hazards are just below the surface. Read a recent report here.
Winds have increased moderate to gusting strong from the South. They are expected to sustain these speeds for the next 24 hours whipping the snow into lee aspect windslabs.
Failing on a buried preserved surface hoar, facet and melt-freeze crust layer roughly 20-50cm down. Slabs are stiffer and deeper where wind loading has occurred.
The snow pack is very weak at the bottom. Recent storm snow and building windslabs is adding to its stress.
No field patrol occurred on Saturday.
On Tuesday to Wednesday, numerous avalanches released due to a 30cm storm. They failed on the buried surface hoar, facet and melt-freeze crust layer. A size 1.5 near Parkers ridge behind Hilda hostel can be found here (Here).
30cm of new snow from last Tuesday formed a persistent slab overlying a weak surface hoar and facet layer or a melt-freeze crust on south and west aspects. The snowpack is 35-45cm in depth with a weak facetted base. A rain crust exists below 1800m. Currently moderate to strong South winds are spawning windslabs on lee aspects.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available from Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Sunday will be clouds, sun, flurries, -7 °C, and light west winds. Monday and Tuesday will be similar.
