Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Forecasters were able to easily remote and skier trigger avalanches failing down 40-50cm at treeline on Friday. Avoid steep, convex and unsupported slopes as the snowpack adjust to this new load.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Numerous skier controlled sz 1 avalanches at treeline triggered by forecasters down 40-50cm. No new slab avalanche activity in areas travelled Friday in alpine areas.
Snowpack Summary
10-15cm of snow fell closer to the divide overnight bringing our recent snowfall totals up to 30cm (ish). This snow was being moved around in the alpine by moderate Sw winds building new windslabs along ridgelines. Forecasters were getting cracking and whumpfing as they travelled. At treeline all the new snow is sitting on the weak facetted base. As it has seen some winds and settlement over the past few days it has formed a more cohesive upper snowpack layer that is failing down 40-50cm at the interface with the basal facets. This interface is proving to be touchy and failing in any steep piece of terrain. As we travelled around features on Friday we were able to remote trigger slopes from 10-20m away easily. The snowpack was constantly talking to us with settlements and cracking. A Profile at treeline has moderate compression test scores down 50cm but very sudden in nature. A good time to use conservative terrain.
Weather Summary
Winds will continue to be in the 40-60km/hr range out of the SW on Saturday with light flurries forecast along the divide. Temperatures will be in the -10c range during the day so not to darn cold!!!
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
The recent snow has begun to settle and is forming a slab that is reactive to a skier as you travel. At treeline this problem was closer to very touchy with numerous remote triggerred avalanches observed.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
Windslabs in along ridgelines and in gullied terrain. These avalanches will likely step down to the weak base layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2