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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 11th, 2018–Apr 12th, 2018
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Jasper.

Good skiing can be found close to treeline on sheltered north facing terrain. Evaluate specific terrain features before committing as we are in a low probability high consequence situation.

Weather Forecast

Thursday will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace precipitation, High -3 C, wind southwest:10-25 km/h, freezing level 1900 metres. Friday will be flurries and 9 cm of snow, low -11 C and high -5 C, wind southwest  20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h, freezing level 1600 metres. Saturday will bring sun and flurries, low -6 C and high -3 C.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs and wind effect found in all open areas treeline and above. The upper snowpack is a 25 to 80 cm thick slab that sits on three weak FC crust layers in the mid-pack. Depth hoar persists near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

No patrol Wednesday. Skiers released a cornice to test Ulr / terminator chute #5 today and released a healthy size 2 avalanche. This is a steep N facing chute dropping into Whistler creek drainage from the backside of Marmot basin.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slabs sitting on facets on Northerly aspects continue to show isolated signs of reactivity. Triggering may occur from shallow snowpack areas some distance out.
Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes. Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Loose Wet

The snowpack in shallow spots requires very little in the way of ambient heat to weaken it to point of triggering. Solar radiation speeds up this process dramatically.
Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Wind Slabs

Moderate southerly winds in the alpine continue to build pockets of wind slab. Once triggered, these slabs may trigger deeper releases running far into the valley.
If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Use caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5