Skiers and climbers should watch for isolated wind slabs in the alpine. On our limited travels so far, the October 26 crust reacted to skiers by whumpfing in several features. Caution is advised until more is known about this early season snowpack.
Weather Forecast
The Westerly flow that brought this weekend's snow to the divide is expected to weaken allowing only minimal amounts of precip to follow. Early Monday however, an arctic front will push South over the prairies to collide with the unstable coastal air. Expect light snowfall as this cold air pushes up slope into the rockies from the NE.
Snowpack Summary
In the alpine 20 to 50 cm has accumulated over the Oct.26 crust. This crust is 2 to 5cm thick and sits on weak facets. A snowpack of at least 60 to 80 cm can be found in the alpine and is being affected by moderate, gusting strong, West winds. The snowpack tapers dramatically at treeline and has not reached threshold for avalanches below treeline.
Avalanche Summary
Some size 2's were noted along the Icefields Parkway yesterday in alpine couloirs. These looked as though they started fairly small in extreme terrain, and gathered mass as they ran. No avalanches observed on a quick to at Sunshine Village today.