Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 28th, 2019 8:00AM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Get up early and go!! Good travel exists as long as the surface crust remains frozen. Danger ratings will rise rapidly once the crust breaks down in the heat of the day.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Plenty of sun today, with freezing levels rising to 1800m and light east winds. A mix of sun and cloud Fri/Sat with freezing levels rising to 2000m and light winds. Flurries are forecasted for Sunday, bringing 5-10cm of snow and light winds.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 15cm of recent snow has been redistributed by SW winds into thin soft slabs at alpine and tree-line lee features. Freezing levels are dropping to valley bottom at night, creating a supportive crust to travel on. The crust was observed to break down by mid-afternoon on solar aspects steeper than 25 degrees. Dry snow is found on N'ly aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Steep, south-facing slopes shed the recent snow as loose, moist avalanches to sz 2 during the heat of the day. A notable avalanche was a glide crack release on the Mounds path on Sunday, and the glide crack on Teddy Bear Trees is opening up with the continued warmth.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Thin soft slabs were formed with the new snow and moderate SW winds Tuesday. These are found in the immediate lee features at tree-line and above, and are most reactive where they sit on an underlying crust.

Recent snow may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar aspects where it sits on sun crustUse caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Isothermal snow (warm, moist, oatmeal-like slop) is now insulated by 10-15cm of new snow. Use caution on steep slopes below tree-line; there is very little strength holding it together once the surface crust breaks down.

Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Use extra caution on solar slopes or if the snow is moist or wet.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 29th, 2019 8:00AM