Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2012 8:11AM

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

jon schleiss, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Generally stable conditions. 20 to 30cm of storm snow has fallen on top of previous windslabs. This may disguise avalanche conditions. Feel around with your poles for these buried slabs.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The morning clouds are forecast to break up and dissipate, and little or no precipitation is forcast for today. Fairly clear skies overnight will give way to increasing cloudiness for Saturday morning bringing another light snowfall.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has fallen on a buried wind slab in the alpine, which rests on a well settled mid-pack.� The Nov. 28 and Nov. 16 crust-surface hoar layers, and the Nov. 6 crust can all be found in profiles, but are not very reactive in tests.� There is substantial variation in snow depth depending on elevation and aspect.

Avalanche Summary

Very little avalanche activity has been observed in the past few days.� Avalanches which have been observed are mostly from steep alpine start zones affected by wind and some sluffing below cornices on steep N and E aspects.� Wind affected and cross loaded features, and thin areas are most likely to produce human triggered avalanches.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Near ridge line, pockets of wind slab persist, and may be hidden by a covering of storm snow. These slabs can be triggered by riders. Cross loaded features and gullies should also be treated with caution.

The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

With an additional 10-15cm of very light snow, sluffing is possible where the wind has had no effect. Caution skiing in steep terrain and over terrain traps where sluffs can gain mass and turn into larger avalanches.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The Nov 6 crust complex has yet to wake up. While the likelihood of triggering is low, it will produce large avalanches. As the load on this layer increases, it may become reactive. Smaller avalanches may step down to this deeper layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2012 8:00AM