Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 26th, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
Tim Haggarty,
Avalanche Canada
The skiing is good however careful terrain selection remains critical right now to avoid triggering the persistent slabs.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Cold nights overnight Sunday and Monday with a bit of cloud lingering with light winds. Watch for West winds to pick up on Tuesday with snow likely for the end of the day through Friday combined with a temperature increase.
Snowpack Summary
50-60cm of snow sits over a layer of facets and surface hoar formed mid Jan at treeline and below producing moderate sudden planar results. In the alpine facets can be found down 80-100cm with a stiff snowpack above . Deeper snowpack areas closer to the Wapta have a more settled snowpack with fewer weaknesses.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity noted or reported on Sunday. Signs of the mid February widespread avalanche cycle were evident however. A size 3 in the Emerald Lake Slide Path had initiated on the summit ridge, taken the left half of the start zone and ran to valley floor while activity up to sz 2.5 was evident on Mt. Field.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
The mid January layer down 50 to 60 cm is a concern above 1700m as the surface crusts dissipate. Dig to test here. In the alpine use caution in shallow areas where the December Facets remain a concern 60cm or less above the ground. Probe to test here
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Gusty West winds on Saturday moved around the new snow creating thin wind slabs isolated to the immediate lees.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 27th, 2017 4:00PM
