Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 29th, 2014 4:00PM

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

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Carefully assess the variability and consequences of the terrain before committing to bigger lines and features.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The weather will remain unsettled for the next couple of days as a stationary front slowly moves out of the area. This should bring broken sunshine, a few more cm's of new snow and a general cooling trend; staying cold for the remainder of the week.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 4 cm low density new snow has buried previously formed surface hoar. An overall highly variable snowpack sits on 10-30cm of basal facets. Previous wind slabs are well bonded in the upper snowpack and providing bridging strength over deep weaknesses above tree line and the alpine. Extensive scouring in the high alpine.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed today.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Odds are you will not be able to trigger this layer from fat areas in the snowpack. It exists at all elevations and aspects and the variability in the snow pack is so widespread it does not inspire confidence anywhere in the terrain.

Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.Choose the deepest and strongest snowpack areas on your run.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 30th, 2014 4:00PM