Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Avalanche Control Planned for Mt. Bosworth, Stephen, Dennis, and Field on Friday. Please no recreational activities in these zones.
Weather Forecast
Snowfall tapers off Thursday night. Cloudy with sunny periods with freezing levels to 1700m for Friday. Scattered flurries are forecasted for Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
20 to 35 cm of new snow sits on a well settled mid and lower pack. This new snow overlies a temperature crust below 1800m on polar aspects and a sun crust into the alpine on solar aspects. Isolated wind effect exists near ridge-tops. No significant shears found in the mid and lower pack, however thin snowpack areas are still suspect.
Avalanche Summary
Poor visibility on Thursday and no new avalanches reported. Last Monday there was a skier triggered avalanche on the Wapta near Mt. Collie and the Richard and Louise Guy Hut. It was a size 2.5 on a SE aspect at 2600m. It failed on a facet layer near the base of the snowpack and took two skiers for a ride, partially burying one with minor injuries.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
West winds have formed small wind slabs in predictable areas on the leeward sides of ridges. Pay close attention to how the snow surface feels, ski test on small rolls, and look for clues like cracking.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Persistent Slabs
The persistent weak layers from January and February are bonding well, and have a low likelihood of triggering in most of the forecast area. Overall the snowpack is quite strong, but continue to be wary, especially in shallow snow-pack areas.
- Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3