Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 17th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Storm Slabs.
DH,
Avalanche Canada
A weak layer at the ideal depth for human triggering continues to produce large avalanches.
The safest way to manage this problem is through conservative terrain use.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Riders continue to trigger large avalanches on the Dec 1st surface hoar. On Sunday a group triggered a size 2 in rocky terrain on Balu Peak and two other recent close calls occurred near by. One on Ursus Minor, one near the 7 steps in the Asulkan valley. East of the park on Thursday an experienced group triggered a size 2 avalanche on the same layer with one skier partially buried.
On Saturday, a few large storm slab avalanches came from the steep terrain of the Eastern Hwy Corridor.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20cm of recent snow buries wind effect, spotty surface hoar, and a thin sun crust in steep terrain.
A rain crust down 40-50cm is present up to 2100m.
A weak layer (Dec 1st surface hoar) buried 50-90cm deep, continues to produce 'sudden' results in snowpack tests and has been the failure plane for several human triggered avalanches recently.
The base of our unseasonably thin snowpack is unsupportive and facetted in shallow areas at upper elevations.
Weather Summary
Steady weather for the next few days. Other than a rise in freezing levels (fzl) on Monday, light to moderate winds and light precipitation amounts set the trend.
Mon: Cloudy w/ flurries - trace of new snow, high 0°C, moderate S winds, fzl 1900m.
Tues: Cloudy, isolated flurries - trace of new snow, low -3 °C, light SW winds, fzl 1700m.
Wed: Cloudy, flurries up to 6cm, low -3 °C, moderate SW winds, fzl 1700m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of surface hoar is down 50-90 cm. This is a prime depth for rider triggering. To manage this problem, stick to conservative terrain. Below 2100m this layer may be bridged by a buried rain crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Deeper wind-loaded features in the alpine and at treeline may still hold reactive slabs from the recent snow. Allow time for this snow to settle and bond before stepping out into overly committing terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 18th, 2023 4:00PM
