Treeline and Alpine elevations are wind hammered. The best snow quality for riding can be found on shady, sheltered slopes.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures show a high of plus 4 degrees and freezing levels 2000 m. Ridgetop wind strong from the southwest.Friday: Mix of sun and cloud. Trace of new snow 3-10 cm. Alpine temperatures -2 and freeing levels 1100 m. Ridgetop wind strong from the west.Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures near -2 and freezing levels 1900 m. Ridgetop winds mostly light, with strong gusts from the southwest.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche observations. On Monday, a size 2 slab avalanche was reported. At this point we're not sure if it was skier triggered or a natural. The crown depth was 30-50 cm deep by 30 m wide and ran 150 m. The terrain feature was a steep, wind loaded convex roll above treeline in the "Little Simpson" area.Please submit your information to the
Mountain Information Network. Give info get info.
Snowpack Summary
Snow surfaces are highly variable throughout the region. Solar and temperature crusts have formed on sun-exposed slopes, while stiff, stubborn wind slabs linger in leeward alpine terrain. Feathery surface hoar and surface facets have formed below treeline up to 1500 m. Approximately 30-50 cm of snow sits on two crusts that were buried near the end of November. These crusts are widespread and extend into the alpine. Although snowpack tests have previously shown hard results at these crust interfaces, more recent observations have been limited. Below these crusts, a well settled mid-pack overlies the late October crust near the base of the snowpack. This "crust/facet combo" layer is widespread and has not been reactive to rider and remote triggers since the end of November.Average snowpack depths now total 80-140 cm at treeline elevations and up to 160 cm in the alpine.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
