Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 23rd, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Garth Lemke,
Good quality turns can be found in sheltered areas below tree line. Despite the Moderate rating in the alpine, human triggering remains possible. Assess conditions if encountering avalanche paths, start zones, terrain traps, and overhead hazards.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A high pressure system will continue the next 4 days to provide mostly clear skies, light South to Southwest winds, no new snow, frigid overnight temperatures rising to -15 to -10C by late afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
Frigid temperatures is creating surface facets. Previous strong to extreme winds have stripped snow from all exposed terrain creating a lot of hard wind slabs and wind affected snow in open terrain below treeline to the alpine. The midpack is supportive. Decomposing surface hoar is found down 40cm to 80cm in isolated sheltered locations.
Avalanche Summary
Saturday's Icefield patrol observed only a couple of avalanches 48-72 hours old. One windslab on the slopes across from Wilcox campground on the West side of the highway and two size 2's thin windslabs on Athabasca glacier triggered by a piece of falling ice. Nothing more recent noted.
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Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Previous strong to extreme Southwesterly winds have resulted in wind slab formation in open terrain features at all elevations. Be wary of where firm slabs have built over shallow areas, on unsupported slopes, and on steep solar aspects.
- Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.
- Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Use caution around thin to thick areas as potential trigger locations. Keep an eye out for buried surface hoar lurking in isolated sheltered locations below treeline.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 24th, 2021 4:00PM
