There is zero skier support below treeline. Early season hazards lurk just under the snow. Watch for increased potential of natural activity on Monday and Tuesday if temperatures increase particularly on South aspects.
Weather Forecast
Clouds, flurries, and seasonal temperatures will continue in the Icefields. Warmer temperatures may occur Monday with -2 degrees Celsius at 3000m.
Snowpack Summary
At Hilda ridge, snowpack ranges from 5-100cm with a 4cm raincrust down 40cm at treeline and suspect it existing at higher elevations. A 15cm windslab exists in open areas treeline and above. Moderate wind transport continues. Height of snow is 45cm at the parkers ridge summer trail weather plot.
Avalanche Summary
Three size 2's was noted off Kitchener ridge today on East aspect. Likely 48hours or older. A few size 1 solar releases observed on South aspects.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
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.