Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 9th, 2016 4:00PM

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

deryl kelly, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cold temps continuing but, the inversion is helping inspire you to get up high where it's more bearable (-15 to -20).

Snowpack Summary

Shallow snowpack areas facetting out to ground and losing cohesion quickly. The upper snowpack is a mixed bag of surface hoar, surface facetting, or layered rotting windslab above the Nov 12 crust (down 45-90cm). The crust is maintaining support for travel above 2100ms. Below 2100ms expect to be walking on the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Road patrols on the Maligne Road and Icefields Parkway observed 3 significant slab releases up to size 2. These were likely triggered from a combination of weak solar input, triggering a point release from the exposed rocks and hitting the shallow slope below. Several of these point releases in similar features noted on steep S aspects.Â

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

Cold temps promoting facetting of upper snow pack. Expect loose dry avalanches from steep terrain.

Avoid travelling on ledges and cliffs where sluffing may have severe consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Found mainly on open lee slopes and cross-loaded gullies. At lower elevations use caution on classic trouble spots like moraine features and larger open slopes with convexities.

The stable avalanche conditions still require careful decision making.Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 10th, 2016 4:00PM