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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2024–Mar 5th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Glacier.

Continued human-triggering of avalanches, coupled with sporadic large natural avalanches neighbouring our region, is keeping our danger ratings elevated.

Have plans to ski conservative, well-supported slopes with limited overhead exposure. Now is not the time to challenge yourself on bold lines!

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Today, a field crew remote-triggered a sz 1 on the Feb 3 crust while approaching a snow profile site.

A skier-triggered sz 2 slab popped mid-run on Avalanche Crest Sunday.

Last week, a group triggered a size 3 in the Camp West area, failing on the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer.

We continue to see daily reports in the region of human triggered avalanches on the Feb 3rd layer - some failing in small forest openings.

Snowpack Summary

80-100cm of settled snow sits atop sugary facets. These facets are not bonding/sticking well to the widespread, very firm Feb 3 crust. This crust is a significant persistent weak layer and will be the main layer of concern for the foreseeable future.

To add to the concerning mix, variable winds over the last 3 days have created soft wind slabs at Tree-line and above on most aspects.

Weather Summary

Convective flurries give way to a mix of sun and cloud this week. Temps stay cool and winds will drop off after Tues.

Tonight: Cloudy, isolated flurries, Alp low -18°C light W winds.

Tues: Sun/cloud, Alp high -14°C, light/mod West ridgetop winds.

Wed: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high -14°C, light W winds.

Thurs: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high -11°C, light W winds.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, avoid terrain where triggering slopes from below is possible
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.