Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
The cold temperatures and brisk northerly winds should ease off on Thursday, but the wind slabs that formed will be sticking around a bit longer.
Carefully assess wind effected slopes if you're heading out into the hills.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
A natural size 2 wind slab on the east face of Boundary Peak was observed on Feb 11. Small wind slabs were also easily triggered by skiers on moraine features in the same area.
Another natural size 2 wind slab was also observed below the ridge crest on "K2" (near Mount Kitchener) later that evening.
Snowpack Summary
The 10-25 cm from Feb 1st, mostly redistributed by wind, sits over top of a weak layer consisting of temperature crusts, winds slabs, or faceted snow. The midpack is weak and faceted. The early season crusts are faceting and breaking down but continue to persist along with large depth hoar at the base. The snowpack at tree line is 70-130 cm in the Icefields area and 50 cm in the Maligne area.
Weather Summary
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -10 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -17 °C, High -12 °C.
Ridge wind light to 15 km/h.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
The wind slabs that recently formed in the alpine, will likely remain human triggerable for a few days, as they sit on a well developed weak layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 3