Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 25th, 2018 6:26PM

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

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

While it is tempting to ski steeper lines, keep in mind the potential for power sluffing and the existence of hard windslabs. It is NOT open season on steep terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The precip has been postponed until late Monday. By Weds expect about 10cm in Lake Louise. Temps will stay in the -10 range and wind is expected to be light from the West.

Snowpack Summary

Wind effected and faceted surface snow snow overlies three mid- pack weak layers 100-130cm down that are gaining strength. These layers continue to produce moderate, sudden planar test results on surface hoar in deep tap tests, and hard to no results with standard compression tests. Thin snowpack areas are degrading/facetting in the cold.

Avalanche Summary

2 responses to avalanche accidents today. The 1st involved a skier boot packing up a steep couloir near Taylor Lake who triggered a size 2 windslab. The skier was not buried but sustained serious injuries. The 2nd skier near Floe Lake was entrained in a large sluff (surface facets) and was dragged through trees and also sustained serious injuries.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

A strong upper snowpack overlies three weak layers in the mid snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on location, and we are slowly gaining confidence with these layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Hard wind slabs exist in lee areas in the alpine. While they may not have a great amount of volume or be particularly touchy, they certainly have the potential to carry you to an undesirable location (cliffs/terrain traps) if triggered.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 26th, 2018 4:00PM