The Maligne and Icefields Parkway just opened. Expect the skiing to be sensational but keep your radar on high alert with the new snow input and changing conditions. Keep you exposure low as the new snow needs time to adjust.
Expect to encounter wind slabs where wind has influence such as Alpine and exposed treeline locations from, but not limtied to. NW to SE aspects. Natural activity has tapered but only recently.
We are observing deep slab releases running far yet natural activity is decreasing as the recent new snow stabilizes. Triggering it would be a high consequence event so cautious decisions and a thorough investigation is necessary.
Saturday will be cloudy, sunny periods, isolated flurries, -9 C, light ridge wind. Sunday will be similar but colder at -19 °C to -16 °C. Monday will be much the same.
About 40 cm of snow fell from Nov 30 to Dec 1. Light to moderate SW winds are blowing it into wind slabs or stripping windward features to ground. The storm snow came in warm but it surprisingly remains dry and light except at low elevations where it rained. The midpack is supportive over a crust - Facet - depth hoar combo near the ground.
Friday's patrol noted a reduction in natural activity yet a couple of recent size 3's deep slabs running full path were recorded. Thursday's explosive control work observed an avalanche cycle up to size 3 being wind and deep persistent slabs on the ground or the basal crust. Two size 3s were observed at Maligne north of Joffre Creek on Thursday.
