Beautiful skiing found in sheltered areas in the Icefields today. Go get it before the wind does!!
Weather Forecast
Overnight cooling with am temps forecast to be -15 to -20. Trace amounts of precip. Generally light sw winds, gusting to moderate values over the day.
Snowpack Summary
Only trace amounts of snow below 1700m. Above 2000m, a generally strong, and supportive early winter snowpack exists with depths ranging from 30 to 100+ cm depending on aspect and exposure to wind. Wind effect on recent snow isolated to exposed slopes and ridge tops in the alpine. New snow remains well preserved on sheltered aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Minimal natural activity observed today; 1 small slab out of extreme terrain. Climbers should still remain vigilant as even triggering a small avalanche in a gully feature or above cliffs can have severe consequences.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.