Variable. We seem to experience a different snowpack in each drainage we travel to. Be curious as you travel and look for the problems. Ski quality is also variable. Sheltered areas at treeline can have good skiing.
Summary
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
Cold. Yes...its still going to be cold. Overnight alpine temps will once again go down to -29. Tomorrow will be similar to today with mostly clear skies. Of course, this means there will be no new snow. No surprise there either. The "high" alpine temperature will be about -24 with winds from the northwest at 20 km/hr. Windchill values will be very, very low. Prepare accordingly.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new today.
Snowpack Summary
Forecasters went to Burstall Pass for today's snowpack assessment. Interestingly, we found a snowpack that is quite different than other areas. Below treeline is still horrendously bad skiing with only enough snow to barely cover the fallen trees and rocks. To top if off, this snow is facetted/rotten enough now to offer no cushioning when the inevitable ski tip snag sends the pilot flying. Treeline has a deeper (90cm) snowpack that is still supportive in most areas. The Nov 12 crust is down 50-60cm and was unreactive in stability tests. As the terrain opens up, some windslabs are encountered.The Alpine. This is where we start to have a winter snowpack. The depth increases significantly and the windslab problems are amplified. The slabs are more prevalent in terms of depth and distribution, but they seem to be more facetted and less of a concern than the more southern forecast areas. The Nov 12 crust starts to disappear at about 2400m and we're thinking it is gone by 2550m. Keep in mind, it may be a thin layer of facets that is hard to feel probing. Dig to confirm before jumping on a slope for the first time.
matt.mueller,
Alberta Parks
