Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 2nd, 2018 5:15PM

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

Parks Canada Grant Statham, Parks Canada

Beautiful days to be in the mountains with good snow conditions and a generally stable snowpack. Climbers should be wary of steep gullies and in particular avoid sun exposed gullies this week. Thurs and Fri will be hot in sheltered areas.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The warm air has arrived and it at the higher elevations today and also for Wednesday. Expect clear skies and continued warming through the week, particularly on the eastern side of the park. Valley bottom high's will reach +1 by Friday. Thursday and Friday will be the warmest days of the week. Don't be fooled by cold temps in the valleys.

Snowpack Summary

The surface snow is a mix of soft powder and wind effect in alpine areas and 30cm of unconsolidated facets below 2000m where the Dec 15 surface hoar is also very prominent buried 40cm down - not an issue right now with no slab above it but watch for this in the future. The deeper snowpack has a few crust/facet layers but is generally strong.

Avalanche Summary

Saw lots of loose snow activity in steep rocky alpine areas today from the sunshine, but otherwise only small windslabs and loose snow avalanches in the past 48 hours.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry
The cold temperatures have facetted the surface snow, and once initiated sluffs can pick up mass and travel far. Big sluffs are possible if you are climbing in gullies with steep terrain above, or skiing steep lines.
On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.The volume of sluffing could knock you over; choose your climb carefully and belay when exposed.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Distribution is variable and their seems to be little pattern to their location. Not much of a problem but we have seen a few. Because of surface faceting they have the potential to run far.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 3rd, 2018 4:00PM