Many folks have been seeking aggressive lines further afield recently. Get up early, move efficiently, and have a means to raise an alarm if you encounter an emergency.
Parks Canada and neighbouring emergency agencies will be conducting avalanche rescue practice near Rogers Pass tomorrow. Cheer them on if you see them! :)
Another sneaky 5-10cms of new snow with 30-40 km/hr Southerly winds created windslabs on Wednesday/ Thursday. These slabs may be losing their energy, but isolated pockets of wind slab can still be found near ridge top and in exposed alpine terrain.
Several solar triggered dry/loose avalanches reported on Mon/Tues up to Sz 2, the largest off Cougar Corner from steep, unrideable terrain.
Field teams have observed skier triggered size 1's the past few days, which were isolated to the top 10-15cm of snow on old firm bed surfaces. Despite their small size, they were moving fast in steep terrain.
A surface sun crust has formed on steep solar aspects.
Variable wind slabs that formed on the 23rd are decomposing with the cold, clear nights. Sheltered areas have ~15cm of low density, faceted (sugary) snow atop a denser, wind-pressed layer. The Jan 7th layer is down 30-60cm, comprised of surface hoar (all aspects) and/or a thin crust on steep S aspects. The mid and lower snowpack are well bonded and strong.
One more full day of sun, then snow arrives late Thurs.
Tonight Cloudy with clear periods. Ridge wind NW15 km/h. Freezing level (FZL) at valley bottom
Wed Mix of sun & cloud. Alpine high -6°C. Ridge wind SW 25. FZL 800m.
Thurs Flurries later in the day. 5-10cm. Alp high -8°C. Ridge wind SW 20km/h. FLZ 700m.
Fri Snow. 15-20cm. Alp high -6°C. Ridge wind S 15km/h gusting to 70km/h. FZL 1000m.
Thursday