Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Good skiing can be found in terrain that was sheltered from previous winds.
Manage terrain cautiously if the snow surface is wind stiffened, or if a crust can be found below last weeks storm snow.
Weather Forecast
High pressure remains Saturday, with an incoming storm on Sunday.
Tonight: Clear, Alpine Low -12*C, light W ridgetop winds, Alpine temperature inversion.
Saturday: Sunny periods, Alpine High -7*C, light-moderate SW wind
Sun: Snow (Up to 10cm), Low -8*C, High -7*C, Strong SW wind
Mon: Snow (Up to 15cm) Low -7*C, High -4*C, Moderate S wind
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs from early in the week still linger in exposed terrain - these formed from West switching to strong Northerly winds. The February 15 surface hoar/solar crust is down 30-70 cm. This layer hasn't been reactive in stability tests or to skier traffic in the past couple days, but surprised several parties early in the week.
Avalanche Summary
There were a few MIN reports of several small slab avalanches on the steep NRC headwall Thursday.
No new natural avalanches were observed Thurs-Fri.
Early this week there were several reports of human triggered avalanches failing in wind slabs and on the Feb 15 layer - partial burials on Avalanche Crest, Vaux Moraine, wind slabs on Cougar Creek East.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs remain reactive in isolated areas, these formed during the past weeks West switching to Northerly winds.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
A persistent weak lay of surface hoar and/or suncrust may be found down 30-70 cm.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
- Persistent slabs may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar asp where they sit on sun crust
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 2