Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Recent snow and strong wind have formed wind slabs on lee features in the alpine.
The good skiing on high north aspects also happens to be where the Feb 3 PWL is most likely to be triggered.
Make a careful assessment for both problems before committing to a slope.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
A size 2 Deep Persistent Slab was observed on the NW bowl of Andromeda, pulling a slab to ice above the bergschrund.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10cm of recent snow has been redistributed by South to SW winds in the Alpine. Solar slopes and all aspects at tree line and below have a plethora of crusts in the upper snow pack. The Feb 3 PWL is down 40-100cm and remains a concern on shaded aspects above 2400m. The basal depth hoar/facets are gaining strength in deeper snowpack areas.
Weather Summary
Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada
Thursday
Cloudy with scattered flurries (4 cm). Wind southwest: 15-35km/h. Freezing level 2100m.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35km/h. Freezing level 2100m.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Wind west: 15km/h gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level 2000m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs have formed on previous hard surfaces (sun crusts and old wind slabs) from recent moderate to strong winds. These will likely need some time to bond.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
This problem seems to be most active where the March 19th crust is not supportive over the Feb 3rd weak layer (down 30-90cm) of facets over a crust. This problem remains a concern on shaded aspects above 2400m.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5