An all freeze and no melt situation continues for another day but is likely to change soon with afternoon warming, less overnight re-freeze, and rising freezing levels. Watch for pockets of wind slab and large ominous cornices. They may be reactive to people and solar radiation.
Up to 20cm of snow has fallen in the alpine this week and is being blown into wind slabs by North winds. Use caution with recently loaded features.
Climbers on the Icefields Parkway Friday reported intense wind transport in the alpine and observed a large avalanche in the Stutfield basin, a wind slab on Mt Wilson, and a serac collapse from below the Normal (Ramp) route on Mt Athabasca which ran for approximately 800m.
Another pair of climbers triggered a small wind slab while approaching the AA Glacier on Friday morning.
Up to 20cm of snow arrived last Wednesday. It has settled and been redistributed by localized North winds. Melt-freeze crusts exist on all aspects other than North alpine. The snowpack at treeline and below is wet below a surface crust. High, North slopes have remained cool and have a dry, winter-like snowpack.
Expect Monday to be a mix of sun and cloud, no new snow, -1 °C, light winds, and 2100m freezing level. Tuesday may bring flurries, 5cm of snow, -4 to 0 °C, light wind, and slightly higher freezing level. Freezing levels will increase to 2600m on Wednesday and slightly higher on Thursday.
