Intense wind loading, warming trend and recent storm snow have added much stress to the weak layers within the snowpack. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making is essential.
10-20 cm of well settled storm snow from last weekend overlies faceted layers formed during the February drought. These facets sit on top of old wind slabs, crusts or more developed facets and depth hoar. This avalanche problem is of most concern in wind loaded and wind affected areas..
With freezing levels creeping up to 2200 m over the weekend and sunny skies in the forecast, loose wet avalanches should be on your radar. Steep slopes with direct sun are of most concern. Watch what is above you as loose rock and failing cornices can work as natural triggers.
The large depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack is inherently weak. The recent storm load has the potential to wake up this problem as overall, the snowpack remains shallow and weak.
10-20 cm of well-settled storm snow from last weekend overlays faceted layers formed during the February drought. These facets sit on top of old wind slabs, crusts, or more developed facets and depth hoar. Wind effect in exposed tree line and alpine elevations. Below 1500m, warm temperatures and rain have soaked the weak snowpack.
Friday:Freezing level rising to 2100 m. Mostly sunny. Winds W at 20 km/h.Weekend: A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate southwest winds at ridgetop. Freezing levels near 2200 m.
An unreported skier triggered small slab avalanche observed in the Icefields Parkway corridor on Wednesday. Local natural avalanche activity has gradually decreased, though field teams are still finding signs of large avalanche cycle throughout the bulletin region. Serious avalanche conditions persist even if the evidence is not always visible.
