Closures of the Icefields Parkway for avalanche control will take place on Monday, between the Parker Ridge and Pinto Lake trailheads. No backcountry access in this area is permitted, including the Weeping Wall area and Polar Circus.
See 511 Alberta for details.
This layer is concerning when there is a cohesive slab overlying it. Watch for the warnings in the snowpack like shooting cracks.
Watch for this problem to become more significant as the temperatures rise, particularly in steep and rocky terrain.
The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Concern for human and natural triggering of this avalanche problem will increase as the temperatures rise over the next few days.
Numerous Deep Persistent and Persistent slabs have been observed over the past few days throughout the region.
Fluctuating freezing levels with intermittent solar radiation has formed surface crusts up to 2000m on most aspects, and higher on steep sun effected ones. Persistent weak layers formed in early January are down 20-30cm in sheltered areas, and have been reactive more recently where wind loaded. Well developed facets and depth hoar make up the bottom of the snowpack.
It will continue to be unseasonably warm with strong winds for the next couple days. There is also potential for some light precipitation near the icefields, likely a mix of rain or snow depending on elevation.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
