Banff Yoho Kootenay

The snow is starting to pile up.  Skiers and climbers should watch for isolated wind slabs, and how much snow is sitting over the Oct. 26 crust. Some whumpfing was noted on this crust today in the alpine on hwy 93N.  Surprisingly good skiing up high.

10-15cm+ along the divide Sunday, and light amounts (5-10cm) Monday and Tuesday.  No real precipitation is expected along the front ranges.

In the alpine 20-40cm has fallen on the Oct.26 crust. This crust is 5cm thick and sits over a 5cm band of weak facets.  This persistent crust/facet layer will likely be a problem with more load. 60-70cm can be found in the alpine, tapering dramatically at treeline. We are below threshold for avalanches below treeline.

Some size 2's were noted along the icefields parkway today in alpine couloirs. They looked as though they started fairly small in extreme terrain, and gathered mass as they ran.