Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bull, Elkford East, Elkford West, South Rockies, St. Mary.
Continually assess your local conditions. Periods of intense sun can quickly destabilize the surface snow.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported in the region.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Dry, powder snow remains on shaded (northerly) slopes. While moist snow or thin crusts exist on most solar slopes at all elevations.
The mid snowpack contains several persistent weak layers including layers of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and old crusts on south-facing slopes. No recent activity has occurred on these layers.
The lower snowpack includes a layer of large, weak facets and or depth hoar crystals.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Mostly clear. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures -5 to -10 C. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures 0 to -5 C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with a chance of isolated flurries. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures 0 to -5 C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud, with a chance of isolated flurries. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures 0 to -5 C. Freezing level 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
The base of the snowpack remains weak. Avoid thin, rocky start zones and shallow areas with variable snowpack depths.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 4