Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 4th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
CG,
Avalanche Canada
Continued human-triggering of avalanches, coupled with sporadic large natural avalanches neighbouring our region, is keeping our danger ratings elevated.
Have plans to ski conservative, well-supported slopes with limited overhead exposure. Now is not the time to challenge yourself on bold lines!
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Today, a field crew remote-triggered a sz 1 on the Feb 3 crust while approaching a snow profile site.
A skier-triggered sz 2 slab popped mid-run on Avalanche Crest Sunday.
Last week, a group triggered a size 3 in the Camp West area, failing on the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer.
We continue to see daily reports in the region of human triggered avalanches on the Feb 3rd layer - some failing in small forest openings.
Snowpack Summary
80-100cm of settled snow sits atop sugary facets. These facets are not bonding/sticking well to the widespread, very firm Feb 3 crust. This crust is a significant persistent weak layer and will be the main layer of concern for the foreseeable future.
To add to the concerning mix, variable winds over the last 3 days have created soft wind slabs at Tree-line and above on most aspects.
Weather Summary
Convective flurries give way to a mix of sun and cloud this week. Temps stay cool and winds will drop off after Tues.
Tonight: Cloudy, isolated flurries, Alp low -18°C light W winds.
Tues: Sun/cloud, Alp high -14°C, light/mod West ridgetop winds.
Wed: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high -14°C, light W winds.
Thurs: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high -11°C, light W winds.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.
- Remote triggering is a concern, avoid terrain where triggering slopes from below is possible
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
This crust-facet combo(Feb 3rd) was created by an extended cold, clear period without snow earlier this month. 80-100cm now sits on the persistent weak layer which remains primed for human triggering (see FB video). If triggered resulting avalanches could be very large in size.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Variable winds, initially from the SW, then switching to the NE, and now back to the W, have created wind slabs in atypical lee features. These slabs have the potential to trigger the deeper Feb 3 layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 5th, 2024 4:00PM
