Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 15th, 2023 3:30PM

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

Avalanche Canada Dvonk, Avalanche Canada

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Dribs and drabs of snow are helping the snowpack slowly. As mentioned previously, travel is improving with the buried crusts. However the skiing is very limited. Continued patience is key.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing seen today.

Snowpack Summary

Flurries last night have freshened up the look of our snowpack. The gravel slopes from past wind events are covered with a few centimeters of snow. Up to treeline, expect to encounter a rain crust down 20-30cm that formed in an early December storm. So far failures on this crust have been few, but as it develops we expect this layer to become a common bed surface for avalanches. A surface hoar layer is also found up to treeline beneath this crust that was producing moderate results in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack a weak basal layer persists that was a thin melt freeze crust in some areas, or just weak basal facets and depth hoar. Thin areas are still common places to trigger these windslabs which are likely to propagate across a feature so keep this in mind as you travel.

Weather Summary

Saturday will see partially sunny sky's and no precip in the forecast. The winds are 40km/h out of the West and day time highs of -5.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Avoid rock outcroppings, convexities, and anywhere the snowpack is thin and/or variable.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are present in almost all lee and cross-loaded features. Human triggering is still a concern.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Be mindful of the weak layers towards the base of the snowpack. Thin rocky areas may propagate out to thicker areas.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Dec 16th, 2023 4:00PM