Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
Watch what the new snow and wind does to the snowpack. The geographical area of most concern seems to be northerly aspects between 1900-2400m where the March 19th crust is not supportive over the Feb 2nd facets over a crust weak layer.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A group of 7 skiers on Sunday at Icefield's Boundary peak area remote triggered a size 2 slab from 100m away. The avalanche occurred in a thin rocky spot, alpine, N aspect, 2250m elevation, 35 degree slope, and slid on the Feb 3rd facets/crust layer. The group triggered it from the bench above.
Likewise groups have been remote triggering avalanches around the Lake Louise zone up to size 3. These have been failing on the the Feb 3rd layer.
Snowpack Summary
A thin sun crust is present on steep solar slopes at all elevations. Elsewhere has about 10cm of soft snow on top of a 2-10cm melt freeze crust. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 30-90cm. Basal depth hoar and facets make up the bottom of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.
Weather Summary
Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Thursday
Flurries.
Accumulation: 6 cm.
Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10-30 km/h.
Freezing level: 1600 metres.
Friday
Flurries.
Accumulation: 10 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -6 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10-25 km/h.
Freezing level: 1500 metres.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
This problem seems to be most active where the March 19th crust is not supportive over the Feb 2nd weak layer (down 30-90cm) of facets over a crust. Northerly aspects between 1900-2400m seem to be the problem area. It is possible that this will step down to the deep persistent weak layer.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 4
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Dry
Watch for loose dry with the incoming snow. These might not be a problem by themselves but could push you into a terrain trap.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5