Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 28th, 2021 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Chris Gooliaff,

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I wouldn't be Canadian if I didn't mention the weather...it's cold, eh?

Temper your touring ambitions with conservative decisions and come back safely to the trailhead with plenty of daylight left (and all your digits)!

Summary

Weather Forecast

Continuing cold through the rest of the week.

Tonight: Clear. -25*C, light NW winds

Wed: Mix of sun/cloud, trace snow, -23*C, light NW winds

Thurs: Cloudy, -22*C, light W winds

Fri: Mix of sun and cloud, -20*C, light W winds

Snowpack Summary

50cm of cold, faceted snow sits on top of previously faceted surfaces. Pockets of slab can be found at all elevations, especially along ridge-crests, on exposed alpine terrain, and in open features in the trees. The Dec 1 crust is buried approx 70-120cm, with faceting of the snow directly above and below (especially in scoured, shallow areas). 

Avalanche Summary

Minimal natural avalanche activity in the last 24hrs. One size 2.5 avalanche out of Lone Pine (Mt Tupper), failing on the Dec 1 crust, and one sz 2.5 wind slab from both MacD #10 and Mannix in the more recent snow.

Human triggered avalanches are still possible, see MIN reports from 8812 Bowl and Grizzly Couloir.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Moderate, variable winds have formed slabs on open features at all elevations, including reverse-loading on S and W aspects. If triggered, these slabs could possibly step down to the Dec 1 crust, approx 70-120cm deep.

  • Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by N-NE winds.
  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Dec 29th, 2021 4:00PM