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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 29th, 2023–Dec 30th, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

The possibility of triggering a deep persistent slab in steep rocky terrain remains our main avalanche concern, with the dangerous nature of the ski conditions following quickly behind.

Use caution if you're heading into higher consequence terrain, or gaining any significant velocity.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported in the last few days.

Snowpack Summary

There has been extensive wind effect at tree line and above, with windward aspects scoured bare, and hard wind slabs/wind effected snow on lee features. Sheltered areas have a weak faceted snowpack with the Dec 2nd surface hoar down 20-30cm, and depth hoar making up the bottom 10-30cm. Two thin melt freeze crusts from December (5th and 22nd) warming events exist below 1800m. Average snow depth at at tree line is 40-60cm.

Weather Summary

Mild and breezy weather with the possibility of a few flurries near the icefields will continue for the next few days.

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

You must keep this basal layer on your radar as triggering is possible in some features, like approaching or moving between pitches on ice climbs. Be cautious in steep terrain if you find yourself standing on the surface and not wallowing in facets, that's the problem slab.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

Previous strong winds have stripped exposed alpine and tree-line terrain, creating wind slabs in cross-loaded and lee features.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5