Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Babine, East Stikine, Hudson Bay, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, Northwest Inland, South Bulkley, Telkwa, West Stikine.
New snow is adding up and observations are limited. Monitor wind effect and the reactivity of new snow as you travel and seek out sheltered snow to stack the odds in your favour.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Skiers remote-triggered a large wind slab from 100 m away in the Little Simpson area on Hudson Bay Mountain on Monday. It failed on faceted snow and is a concerning example of the snowpack's current potential.
Up north, a 20 - 40 cm deep layer of surface hoar on the early-December crust was reactive to skiers in the Ningunsaw area recently and produced a large natural avalanche in the same area on Monday.
Please share your own observations on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Light new snow amounts have been adding to existing wind slabs and to otherwise heavily wind affected surfaces in the alpine and at treeline.
The crust from early December is now buried 20 to 40 cm. In some areas, large surface hoar crystals are found at this interface. We are trying to track the distribution of this surface hoar across the region. Faceted snow is perhaps more likely to find at this interface and poses a similar problem.
Check out this helpful MIN report.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level 900 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Friday
Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
- Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
- Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Continuing light snowfall and southerly winds are promoting wind slab formation on an ongoing basis.
Investigate for wind slab around ridges or lee features and use wide safety margins - remote triggering has been observed.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2