Akamina

Approach steep, lee terrain features with caution. Don't commit to a steep slope if it looks wind-affected or feels dense or stiff.

No new avalanches were reported in the area. Several large (size 2 to 3) wind slabs were observed in the neighbouring Waterton Lakes National Park, releasing in alpine terrain on easterly aspects between 2000 and 2300 m.

Looking ahead, riders could trigger wind slabs in steep, lee terrain features.

Pockets of soft snow can still be found in sheltered terrain that has not been affected by the recent southwest winds. In wind-exposed terrain the wind has redistributed the surface snow, forming wind slabs in lee terrain features. A hard melt-freeze crust below 2000 m is buried at variable depths between 0 - 20 cm depending on elevation. A surface crust may be found up to around 1600 m on all aspects and to ridgetop on sun-exposed slopes.

The middle of the snowpack is generally consolidated and sits above weak, faceted snow near the ground.

Monday Night

Mostly clear skies, 10 km/h west wind, treeline temperatures -14 °C

Tuesday

Partly cloudy skies with no precipitation, 10 to 20 km/h southwest wind, and treeline temperatures warming to -5 °C

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 20 to 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Partly cloudy skies, increasing through the day with isolated flurries, light west winds, treeline high temperatures -5 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.