Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 27th, 2016 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada aaron beardmore, Avalanche Canada

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=23024&oPark=100815

The Little Yoho region has an overall deeper and more settled snowpack than the main range just to the East. Watch for thin areas where a larger avalanche can be triggered. See the Special Public Avalanche Warning link above for more details.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cloud cover and below surface freezing levels are expected in the next 2 days. Very light precip amounts are expected to accompany the cloud cover. Upper level wind will shift to come from the N-NE

Snowpack Summary

A crust lies on solar aspects into the alpine and on shady aspects up to ~2000m where it disappears. In the top meter of the snowpack, several buried suncrusts exist and may still be a concern on west, south and east aspects but in general the snowpack is well settled. Low elevation snowpacks (Field ice climbs) are isothermal and slushy in the PM.

Avalanche Summary

One avalanche was reported on the West face of Mt. Ogden from a party coming off of the Bow-Yoho traverse. Size 3 and approximately 500m wide. It is expected to be approx 48 hours old. No further details.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Sunday

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Several buried suncrusts exist in the upper pack on S, E and W aspects although we have not had a chance to look for them for over one week. Dig down to look for these yourself, as we were surprised by a buried suncrust just last week.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices

Cornices are large. Ensure you give them a wide berth on ridge crests, as they can pull back a long way when they fail and may trigger an avalanche below. If you need to travel under cornices - move quickly.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 28th, 2016 4:00PM