Good quality turns can be found in sheltered areas below tree line. Despite the Moderate rating in the alpine, human triggering remains possible. Assess conditions if encountering avalanche paths, start zones, terrain traps, and overhead hazards.
Previous strong to extreme Southwesterly winds have resulted in wind slab formation in open terrain features at all elevations. Be wary of where firm slabs have built over shallow areas, on unsupported slopes, and on steep solar aspects.
Use caution around thin to thick areas as potential trigger locations. Keep an eye out for buried surface hoar lurking in isolated sheltered locations below treeline.
A high pressure system will continue the next 4 days to provide mostly clear skies, light South to Southwest winds, no new snow, frigid overnight temperatures rising to -15 to -10C by late afternoon.
Frigid temperatures is creating surface facets. Previous strong to extreme winds have stripped snow from all exposed terrain creating a lot of hard wind slabs and wind affected snow in open terrain below treeline to the alpine. The midpack is supportive. Decomposing surface hoar is found down 40cm to 80cm in isolated sheltered locations.
Saturday's Icefield patrol observed only a couple of avalanches 48-72 hours old. One windslab on the slopes across from Wilcox campground on the West side of the highway and two size 2's thin windslabs on Athabasca glacier triggered by a piece of falling ice. Nothing more recent noted.
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