Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

Deryl Kelly,

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Hard windslab present over a resistant Feb. interface down 20 - 50 cm and present on all aspects up to 2500m. Dig and assess bond before committing to large features.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Cloudy with scattered flurries.  5 cm. Temp: High -5 C. Wind SW: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Fzl: 1600 m

Friday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Trace new. Temps: Low -8 C, High -6 C. SW: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h. Fzl: 1400 m

Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Trace. Low -6 C, High -4 C. Light winds. Fzl: 1800 m

Snowpack Summary

Regionally variable HST values up to 35cm over the past 4 days atop a solid mid-pack. Alpine and exposed TL scoured and sculpted by steady SW winds. Hard windslab present in lee features. Feb 13 interface down 20-50, present as MFc on solar aspects or DF interface on polar aspects with resistant reactivity through the region.

Avalanche Summary

Tuesdays avalanche control highway 93 south produced up to size 1.5 wind slab averaging 30cm deep. A few size 1.5 dry loose observed in steep alpine terrain. Ski cut on an steep, unsupported feature in the Maligne range produced a size 2 on a hard wind slab.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Sculpted terrain features widespread in the Alpine and Treeline.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

With up to 35cm of new snow, loose new snow could be an issue for ice climbers in tight gullies or steep cliffs above.

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
  • Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 17th, 2022 4:00PM