Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Excellent ski quality in sheltered features. Watch for new wind slabs at treeline and above. SH
Weather Forecast
Trace to 5cm snow Saturday with L South winds in the alpine and continued cool temperatures. Sunday may see some increased winds and light snow accumulations.
Snowpack Summary
New wind slabs 20-50cm thick (4finger-1finger stiffness) on wind exposed treeline and alpine lee slopes formed by SW winds in last 48 hours. Mainly sitting on a thin layer of facets but isolated in nature. Well settled midpack in thicker snowpack areas, Nov 6 crust facetting in thinner areas. Low density powder below treeline.
Avalanche Summary
2 size 3 naturals on the N. face of Mt. Victoria within the last 24 hours, initiating at 3000-3300m It is suspected wind loading caused the snowpack to fail on glacial ice or old firn snow, No other avalanches of this magnitude observed or reported. Size 1-1.5 skier controlled avalanches reported at Sunshine ski area limited to ridge crests.
Problems
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.