Chic-Choc Mountains

Significant snow transport observed in the mountains on Friday. The wind slabs that have formed are therefore fresh; they rest on a crust and could be easily triggered by a skier.

Avoid slopes in the alpine zone that have recently been loaded by the wind. If you must cross an exposed slope, test it carefully and keep a safe distance between people.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

On Saturday, visibility for the field team at Mont Albert was limited by heavy snowfall, but several signs of instability were observed: creaking under skis, whumfs, and reactive behaviour in both informal and more formal tests.

A size 1 dry loose avalanche triggered by a skier has been reported on the Mountain Information Network. It occurred on Friday in the Baguettes sector of Mount Lyall, on a north-facing slope. https://avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/09c4e691-1f1f-11f1-b0a6-0a58a9feac02

Many signs of instability observed on Albert on Thursday and reported on the Mountain Information Network: https://avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/776518d2-1e37-11f1-9929-0a58a9feac02

If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Since Wednesday, between 20 and 30 cm of fresh snow has fallen. A thin layer of ice pellets lies within this snow, approximately 10 to 15 cm below the surface. The entire snowpack rests on a widespread melt-freeze crust in the mountains. This crust generally supports a skier’s weight in alpine terrain, but it is less supportive below the tree line.

We will be monitoring these two more fragile layers closely (crust and ice pellets), as they could persist within the snowpack and slow down the stabilisation of the slabs covering them.

Beneath this widespread crust, the middle of the snowpack remains well consolidated.

Strong to extreme winds from the south, then from the north-west, have created significant variability in the snowpack in alpine terrain and at the tree line, and in places even below the tree line.

At mid-mountain, the average snowpack depth is around 140 cm.

WEATHER FOR THE CHIC-CHOCS RIDGES AND PEAKS

A high-pressure ridge will bring a brief lull on Friday evening and Saturday morning before the wind picks up again later in the day.

Friday evening and overnight

Partly cloudy. Light westerly wind, later turning south-easterly. Low -18.

Saturday

Intermittent snow, 1 to 2 cm. Winds increasing to 20–40 km/h from the south-east. High -8 °C.

Sunday

Intermittent snow. North-westerly winds of 30–50 km/h. High -8.

Monday

Snow, 2–5 cm. South-easterly winds of 50–80 km/h. High -3.

For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
• The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
• Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.