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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 26th, 2020–Jan 27th, 2020
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Kananaskis.

Wind slabs are present in the alpine and into tree line. Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas.  

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Monday is to bring a mostly cloudy day with light flurries throughout the day. Temperatures are expected to hover around -7c, along with moderate SW winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

We dug a snowpit at treeline today at 2300m on an east aspect. The top 50cm is made up mostly of several generations of previous wind slabs which should be approached with caution. We were getting easy compression tests down 15cm, moderate compression tests down 40cm and hard compression tests down 46cm , all on different generations of wind slab. The milder temperatures over the last 10 days has warmed up the snowpack and is becoming generally a well settled snowpack. The basal layer (November crust/ facet combo) which is about 40cm off the ground is still a concern as large depth hoar was pouring out of our pit wall. A wind slab triggered near the surface has the potential to wake up the basal layer, producing a very large avalanche.

We dug another pit in a sheltered area on a north aspect at 2200m and found the Dec 30 surface hoar to be down 40cm and not as reactive as two weeks ago.

Terrain and Travel

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

There are several generations of wind slabs that need some more time to heal.  

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

It is worth to dig a pit to ground to see the severity of this basal layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5