The current deep persistent slab avalanche problem may be difficult to assess and manage in the field due to it's unpredictable nature. Use caution when accessing terrain with thin or variable snow coverage.
Be diligent in your terrain assessment and keep a wide margin for error when choosing slopes.
This problem is low probability but high consequence as it would be releasing near the ground with a lot of destructive volume. Be extra cautious where snowpack goes from thick to thin areas.
Surface hoar and/or surface faceting continue to grow and can be found up to 2700m and likely higher. Otherwise, surfaces are firm and wind impacted. Soft snow remains in sheltered areas. Solar slopes host variable old crusts, especially on steeper aspects. The snowpack is generally deeper in the Icefields and shallower at Maligne lake.
Field team in Rampart area on Tuesday reported a few solar triggered size 1.5. Also, outside Lake Louise ski area on the Vortex run (Pipestone area) a skier triggered a size 2.5, took a 200m ride, buried up to waist, uninjured but lost equipment. It was a 40 degree slope, W-NW aspect, 2500m, 40-80cm deep crown, 60m wide, and 200m long releasing near the ground. It was triggered in a cross loaded shallow spot feature.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -11 °C.
Ridge wind northwest: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
SundayA mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -6 °C.
Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
MondayA mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -8 °C.
Ridge wind west: 10 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
