The widespread avalanche cycle along the Icefields Parkway on Tuesday and Wednesday is a good reminder to pay attention to overhead hazard and that the deep persistent problem remains a concern.
With the new snow and a switch to northeasterly winds expect slab development on non typical aspects. These wind slabs will have a potential to overload the deep persistent layer below and result in larger than expected avalanches.
Cold temperatures can cause the snowpack to become weak and loose cohesion. This is more of an issue for ice climbers in steep rocky terrain.
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Natural avalanches continue to step down to this layer.
Widespread avalanche cycle 24-48hrs old on either side of the Icefields Parkway on all aspects in the alpine. Mostly size 2-3 and up to size 4. Most of these avalanches started as wind slabs and stepped down to the deep persistent facet layer. Most notably the main Buck Lake slide path and the Churchill South slide path ran into the ski lines.
Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.
Cold temperatures are faceting the upper snowpack. Wind stripped and sculpted snow in exposed locations around the Icefields. In sheltered locations 40 cm of settled snow sits on top of a generally weak mid and lower snowpack with facets and depth hoar at the base. The height of snow is variable from 60 to 160cm.
For Parker Ridge
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -20 °C.
Ridge wind west: 15 km/h.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.
Accumulation: 4 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -22 °C, High -13 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h.
Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
