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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 27th, 2023–Dec 28th, 2023
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
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: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Be on the lookout for pockets of wind slab at treeline and above. Hopefully the new year will bring some new snow!

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed on the Icefields parkway.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds have stripped exposed terrain in the alpine and at tree-line. Continued wind slab development in leeward terrain. The snowpack is 45-80cm deep and is weak and facetted throughout. Basal weaknesses are a combo of large facets and chains of depth hoar.

An Ice Climbing Conditions report is available here.

Weather Summary

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Thursday

Cloudy with scattered flurries. Trace accumulation. Ridge wind SW 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level: 1500m.

Friday

Mainly cloudy. Ridge wind SW 10 km/h. Freezing level: 1500m.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level: 2200 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Previous strong winds have stripped exposed alpine and tree-line terrain, creating wind slabs in cross-loaded and lee features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

You must keep this basal layer on your radar as triggering is possible in some features, like approaching or moving between pitches on ice climbs. Be cautious in steep terrain if you find yourself standing on the surface and not wallowing in facets, that's the problem slab.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5