Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 22nd, 2013 4:00PM

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

Grant Statham, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Skiing is bad. Ice climbing looks good. Get after the routes you want while the danger is relatively low and the temperatures remain mild.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A minor system embedded in a southwesterly flow will cross the Jasper region for Wednesday. Expect increasing winds, temperatures will fall slightly and no more than 5cm of new snow.

Snowpack Summary

Most slopes at treeline and alpine areas are seriously wind effected, with hard slabs in some areas, and scouring to rocks in others. These hard slabs overly a sporadically found weakness down 10-40 cm (Jan 4 surface hoar and facets). The lower snowpack is facetted and of variable strength, but overall stronger than expected for this time of year.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed along the Icefields Parkway today.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent wind effect has destroyed most of the surface snow and left hard slabs which could be triggered from shallow snowpack areas. Watch for steep and unsupported areas of windloaded snow.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

The lower depths of the snowpack are slowly facetting and becoming weaker, especially in shallow areas. Choose the deeper snowpack areas for your travel.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2013 4:00PM