http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=http://www.facebook.com/MRGnationalparks/posts/608542575941919Numerous reports of people triggering avalanches directly or remotely are coming in daily. Tree line elevation is where this layer has been most reactive. Conditions are dangerous right now. Take extra caution and choose conservative terrain to ride.
Weather Forecast
High pressure ridge is gaining strength over the Interior. Clouds dissipating by tonight and temperatures getting colder. We may get a little more light snow but nothing significant. Expect clear skies tomorrow and a chilli north wind.
Snowpack Summary
Top 20-25cm is light snow. The widespread and highly reactive Dec 17 surface hoar layer is down ~50-70cm beneath a settling storm slab and on top of a thick rain crust up to 2100m. The Dec 9 surface hoar is down ~ 70-90cm but is more spotty in distribution. The Nov 9 crust sits 30cm above the ground.
Avalanche Summary
Backcountry report from yesterday at Balu Pass, east aspect, 200m wide avalanche, trigger unknown, ran to bottom flats. Teddy Bear trees, remote size 2.0, east aspect, 70-100cm deep. Slope to Puff Daddy, NE aspect, rider triggered size 1.0, ~1930m, below a remotely triggered size 2.0 avalanche from two days ago, ~2000m, 75m wide, 75m long.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.