Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.
The 10-15cm of new snow will improve the skiing. Be vigilant for newly formed windslabs. The frigid temperatures will remain for this week.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Maligne and Icefield's noted very little new activity. One loose dry size 1.5 observed on Saskatchewan North avalanche path. On Thursday, Marmot Basin triggered a size 2 avalanche failing on the basal deep persistent layer using explosives. Several natural wind slab avalanches to size 2 as well as smaller loose dry avalanches were observed in the Icefields area on January 29th.
Snowpack Summary
10-15cm of fresh snow is on a variety of surfaces depending on location, including melt freeze crusts, sun crusts, hard wind slabs, and soft faceted snow. These overlie a generally weak and faceted mid-pack. At the bottom of the snowpack are the early season crusts, which are faceting and surrounded by large depth hoar. The snowpack is 70-130 cm in depth at tree line, and thins quickly below.
Weather Summary
Sunday will bring sun and flurries, -21C, and light winds. Monday to Wednesday will be similar but colder temperatures.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent snow and winds formed windslabs in lee features particularly at ridgetops. They appear to remain stubborn to trigger.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3