Previous storm snow and warming temps this week will consolidate and change the condition of the surface slab. Dig down and test the reactivity of the new snowpack before you commit to a line or feature.
Recent reported avalanches in the Icefields were down ~30cm on a suspect interface. This layer may be concerning when there is a supportive slab overlying it. Watch for the warnings in the snowpack like shooting cracks.
Triggering may be possible in isolated features. Approaches or transitions with steep rocky terrain are particularly worrisome. Watch for signs of whumping and cracking.
The field Team was in the Icefields on Monday. Tests showed easy results with the potential to propagate in connected features at the storm interface. Recent natural activity in the region has been associated with this persistent weak layer.
As a general observation, the snowpack continues to be weak and largely unsupportive, though recent storm snow has improved travel. HS at tree-line is 45-75cm. Ski penetration is down 20-30cm which shows that while shallow, there is some structure in the mid-pack. A faceted interface down ~25cm shows up in snowpack tests; while in the field, reactivity will be subject to the strength of the slab over that layer.
Icefields Overnight: Clear periods. Alpine Low -6 °C. Light winds.
Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and a trace of flurries Alpine high, -5 °C. Light winds. Fzl up to 1500m.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
