Winter has arrived. Recent cold temperatures and snowfall has quickly changed the mountains from summer into winter - almost no autumn season! Alpine areas have enough snow to produce avalanches and early season keeners should be prepared.
Early season snow has arrived early this fall, and although Banff and Yoho Parks did not receive the heavy dump that fell to the east, there is now enough snow for avalanches and keen early-season climbers and skiers should be prepared.
The giant upslope storm that hit Alberta at the end of September did not hit Banff Park as hard. As of October 1 there is 15 cm on the ground at treeline Sunshine Village and Mt. Bosworth. Expect drifted areas on the Wapta Icefields of up to 100 cm in leeward areas. Winds will be moving snow and creating windslabs in leeward areas in the alpine.
Small windslabs have been reported in alpine areas, but no significant natural avalanches have been observed yet. Expect this to change and avalanche activity to increase as October progresses.
