If you must travel in the Back Country: keep objectives short, and close to home. Small injuries will have serious consequences with the present temperatures.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Coldest recorded temps (so far;): Maligne, -40.5; Parkers Ridge, -34.9 (Feb. 9 @ 0100! Mercifully, we haven't reached any lower.
Tonight: Cloudy with clear periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -33 C. Light ridge wind.
Thursday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -25 C. Light ridge wind.
Snowpack Summary
The cold has deeply penetrated the snowpack, promoting profound facetting in the upper 40cm. This will slow any slab development on the recent storm snow. The mid-pack has remained strong but, will loose strength over time with the prolonged arctic influence, especially where shallow.
Avalanche Summary
A few brave souls out reporting good, but slow skiing conditions. Numerous loose dry, point releases reported from the Alpine as the cold continues to breakdown the supporting surface structure of the snowpack.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Problems
Loose Dry
Surface snow continues to lose cohesion and structure making specific areas susceptible to light triggers like direct solar influence, and excitable riders. Sluff awareness and management will be very important in steep and/or confined lines.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs or larger sluffs.
- On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cold temperatures can make cornices brittle. Keep a healthy distance away both when traveling below, or near corniced features.
- Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on ridges.
- Avoid travel on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 11th, 2021 4:00PM
