Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 1st, 2017 4:01PM

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

Avalanche Canada jsmith, Avalanche Canada

We currently have very limited snowpack observations within this region and it is critical to supplement this information with your own observations.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries / Light southwesterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 500 mSUNDAY: Mostly sunny / Light to moderate westerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level valley bottom.MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate westerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Thursday. This may speak to a lack of observations rather than actual conditions. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of new snow has fallen in the past few days. At higher elevations, southerly winds (gusting strong at times) likely redistributed the new snow, forming wind slabs on lee features.Below the recent storm snow you may find a couple of crusts which formed as a result of last week's rain. That said, little is known about the reactivity of these crusts or the elevation bands at which you're likely to find them. A major feature in the snowpack is a crust which formed around November 11th and can be found approximately 120cm down at treeline elevations. The depth of the snowpack varies greatly with elevation. Recent reports suggest the average depth is 200+cm in the alpine, 100-180cm at treeline, and decreasing rapidly below treeline where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks. We currently have very limited snowpack observations within this region and it is critical to supplement this information with your own observations.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Lingering storm slabs may still be reactive to human triggers in wind exposed areas at treeline and above.
The new snow may require several days to settle and stabilize.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
Not much is known about the reactivity of a hard crust which lurks deep in the snowpack. This uncertainty warrants conservative terrain selection as an avalanche at this interface could be large and destructive.
Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Dec 2nd, 2017 2:00PM