Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 20th, 2023 2:15PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada mkoppang, Avalanche Canada

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Watch for pockets of wind affected snow that if triggerred will likely fail to ground. This area has lower snow coverage as compared to the Spray/Smith Dorrien area.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

The front ranges within the Kananaskis valley are very dry for this time of year. The main concern is pockets of hard slabs in alpine terrain that if triggerred will likely fail to ground. Lots of bare rock is exposed and thin weak areas surrounding the lens of hard slabs should be avoided.

Weather Summary

Saturday will see North winds becomming more westerly later in the day and temperatures in the -4C range throughout the day under partly cloudy skies. No snow is forecast for this area until Sunday where up to 4 cm will fall.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Small avalanches may cause climbers to fall or belayers and gear to become buried.
  • Ice climbers should be equipped with avalanche safety gear.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Pockets of hard deep slabs in gullied terrain and in alpine terrain. Ice climbers should pay attention to drummy feel as the move across isolated snow coverred slopes and gullies.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2023 4:00PM

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