Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 7th, 2024 4:00PM

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

DK, Avalanche Canada

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

Even at moderate hazard, big, connected, sunny slopes are concerning, and it may be possible to trigger the basal layers, especially in steep TL features.

Don't ignore the warnings like whumphing or cracking. It remains a weak, winter snowpack with active persistent and deep persistent problems!

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

The field team on Monday triggered a sz 1.5 persistent slab on a south asp. at TL in Boundary Lake on the Parkway. Triggered with a whumph and was slow to initiate.

No new avalanches were observed or reported on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

A light dusting of recent snow sits over a variable, breakable crust. This crust can seen as a 1-3cm near surface crust on shaded aspects, up to a 15-20cm melt freeze crust observed on solar aspects. Big, connected, and sunny treeline features are the most troublesome. Persistent and deep persistent weak layers remain ever-present and active. Do not trust either of these layers.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Overnight: Clearing. Low in the Icefields: -8Â°C

Thursday: Mix of Sun and Cloud. Light winds and precipitation. Alpine High -7 Â°C; Light right top winds. Freezing level: Valley Bottom.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Our recent melt-freeze cycle was not strong enough to heal our persistent slab problem. This weak layer, buried 20-40cm deep, is still reactive in snowpit tests and human triggering remains possible, particularly in shallow rocky start zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Human and natural triggering of these basal facets remains possible.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Feb 8th, 2024 4:00PM