Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 17th, 2014 4:00PM
The alpine rating is Deep Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeIt will be difficult to find good quality skiing this weekend but travel conditions should be good. We expect ice climbing conditions to be excellent!
Summary
Weather Forecast
Temperatures will drop tonight and rebound to +5 to +7 at Treeline on Saturday. Winds will continue to be light from the SW and sunny skies are forecast.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures are promoting settlement in the snowpack. A supportive mid-pack can be found in sheltered locations. Last weekend's storm has been stripped by extreme Northerly winds. Wind slabs are present on lee slopes and in cross-loaded gullies. Weak basal facets are present on slopes where they haven't either slid or been blown away.
Avalanche Summary
No new observations today. The crew at Marmot reported minimal results on their control work, the exception being a size 2.5 on a SE facing Alpine slope on the basal facets. Yesterday's control work on the Icefields Parkway yielded large avalanches to size 3 on all alpine aspects releasing on either the storm snow interface or on basal facets.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain on Saturday
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
The basal facet layer is of great concern as it is the most significant weakness in this year's snowpack. Use extra caution in areas that have not previously avalanched, especially on open treeline slopes.
Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Windslabs have been triggered on this interface buried in the snowpack as well as deeper on the basal facet layer.
Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.Avoid cross loaded features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 18th, 2014 4:00PM