Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 2nd, 2014 8:00AM

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

catherine brown, Parks Canada

Glacier.

There is good quality snow to be found on sheltered Northerly aspects. Be cautious on steep hard snow with dangerous fall potential.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Today a mix of sun and cloud with light ridge winds, tomorrow light to mod winds out of the North. Continued below seasonal temperatures with a high of -11.0 in the alpine. No precip in the near forecast.

Snowpack Summary

5cm of snow has buried various surfaces, with moderate winds moving it around. On steep solar aspects it will bond poorly to a suncrust, and elsewhere it will help preserve surface hoar and surface facets. In the alpine it hides hard windslabs and challenging skiing. The mid-pack is well settled and strong, with weaker basal layers.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated small pockets of wind slabs up to 20cm deep and small loose avalanches (sluffs) have been triggered by skiers in steep terrain. Recently, field teams were able to ski-cut thin (5cm) hard slabs in wind affected areas in the alpine.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

New snow over a variety of surfaces will sluff easily in steep terrain.

On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1

Wind Slabs

Old and new variable wind slabs are present at alpine and tree line elevations. It is possible to trigger isolated pockets of wind affected snow on steep roll overs.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1

Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2014 8:00AM