Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 26th, 2016 3:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Wind slabs are sensitive to human triggering. Some good skiing can be found in sheltered areas at Treeline, but prepared for a thrash to get there as the low elevation snowpack remains quite shallow.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Sunday will be mainly cloudy with no precipitation expected. Alpine temperatures should reach a high of -7 °C with moderate winds out of the West. No precipitation is forecast for the rest of the week.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose dry up to size 1.5 were observed today in very steep Alpine terrain on all aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm of recent storm snow is sluffing in very steep Alpine terrain. Moderate to strong winds were forming wind slabs today in the Alpine and in isolated locations at Treeline. These recent slabs were not reactive to skier traffic today, but this appeared to be changing for the worse as we left the field. At 2200m the Nov 12 crust is buried 50 to 60cm and was not reactive in numerous stability tests.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong winds and recent snow has led to fresh wind slabs in the Alpine and Treeline. These slabs will be sensitive to human triggering, especially in convex or unsupported terrain..

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded features

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Recent snow and strong winds has led to frequent sluffing in steep Alpine terrain on all aspects. Ice climbers should be aware of overhead hazard.

Avoid travelling on ledges and cliffs where sluffing may have severe consequences.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 27th, 2016 2:00PM