Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kananaskis.
The temperatures are more tolerable on sunny slopes in the early afternoon. Expect slow, but good skiing on our new surface facets.
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Westerly winds at all elevations will drop during the day. Good thing as the overnight lows will once again be cold. -25 overnight with a high of -21. No snow is expected with mostly clear skies.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing today.
Snowpack Summary
Lots of wind transport was noted today. The alpine was the hardest hit, but treeline was also effected. Given the recent surface faceting, wind loading wasn't heavy despite the winds. Most open areas had obvious wind rippling/waviness and gullies looked very full. Travel today was limited to valley bottom for us and the most noticeable change is the faceting and crust deterioration. One can only assume the Dec 5th crust (now down about 60-80cm) is also turning to sugary facets. This will eventually pose a persistent slab problem for us in the weeks to come.
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs are being found in alpine terrain and in specific features at treeline such as gullies. They are beginning to settle but are still reactive in steeper terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5