Good conditions overall, but we have lingering concerns for pockets of persistent slab in the Kootenay and Yoho areas, where a 20-40 cm slab may overlie the Jan 24 surface hoar/crust layer and be reactive in steeper terrain. Watch for cracking or signs of slab formation as you enter steep terrain at treeline and below.
Wind slabs may exist in the alpine on steep lee aspects resulting from south and west winds. Watch for drifted snow, and use any opportunities to test on small terrain features, and check the stability of the surface snow.
A 10-30 cm slab over the Jan. 24th surface hoar layer could catch users off guard in isolated, shady aspects at treeline and below. Check the snowpack often and monitor the character and behaviour of the slab above this weak layer closely. Recent activity has been between 1500 and 1900 m.
A report from Wednesday in Yoho about the Jan 24 surface hoar being reactive below treeline, shows the layer can still be triggered in isolated locations.
No other new avalanches reported.
10-15 cm of soft surface snow in sheltered alpine areas, and down to the valley bottom on north aspects. Steeper solar aspects have surface crusts, and areas exposed to the wind have a lot of wind effect. A Jan 24 layer of surface hoar/crust is down 15-30 cm at treeline and below. This layer has been reactive in isolated pockets recently between 1500 and 1900 m. Below this interface, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
Saturday - Cloudy with flurries, light to moderate SW-W winds, 3-5 cm of new snow, and treeline temperatures between -5 to -8°C.
Sunday - Mostly sunny with light to moderate SW-W winds, and treeline temperatures between -8 to -10°C.
