Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
High freezing levels and strong solar will potentially destabilize the snowpack. Avoid solar aspects if the snowpack becomes punchy and isothermal.
In these spring-like conditions, an EARLY START will give you the best margin of safety.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday a party triggered a size 1.5 slab on a steep line on the North face of Cheops. One person was involved and lost equipment.
A field team was able to ski cut a sz 1.5 wind slab from an alpine lee feature on Christiana Ridge last Wednesday.
The March 27th crust has added bridging strength to the snowpack but things may fall apart quickly when that crust breaks down in the heat.
Snowpack Summary
10-20cm of dry powder exists on northerly aspects in the alpine. Solar aspects have a surface crust of varying thickness.
Below this surface snow, a 10-25cm thick crust of variable strength from last week's rain event is present. Test results have varied on this crust, from no result to moderate failures.
Below 2300m moist snow can be found under this crust.
A series of persistent weak layers exist in the midpack that may come back into play in the next warm up.
Weather Summary
High pressure will bring clearing and rising temps for the weekend.
Tonight Clear, nil precip. Alp low 0°C. Ridge wind SW 15-km/h. Freezing Level (FZL) 1700m, weak temperature inversion.
Sun Mix of sun/cloud. Precip: nil. Alp high 5°. Wind South 15 km/h. FZL 3000m.
Mon Wet flurries. Snow: 6cm. Alp high 3°C. Wind S 20 km/hr gusting 50km/hr. FZL 2300m.
Tues Mix sun & cloud. Alp high: -1°C. Light SW ridge wind. FZL 1900m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs can be found in immediate lee features at Treeline and Alpine elevations. South-west winds have loaded Northerly aspects, though pockets may exist on solar slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
High freezing levels and strong sun will soften up the surface snow on solar aspects. Slopes blazing in the sun should be avoided, especially once their surface has become moist/wet.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Cornices
Cornices have grown significantly in the last few weeks and are becoming more fragile with the warmer temperatures. There has been sporadic cornice fall observed in the park, sometimes pulling slabs out when they hit the slopes. Limit your exposure overhead, especially when the sun is strong.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5