Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 23rd, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Garth Lemke,
The hazard has the potential to increase if the sun comes out and causes an unexpected rapid rise in temperature.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Monday will be sun, cloud, flurries, -7C, and light gusting 35km/hr West winds. Tuesday will be sun, cloud, no new snow, -11 to -7C, and light West winds. Wednesday will be very similar but slightly colder.
Snowpack Summary
Treeline and below, the top 30-50cm is low to medium hardness. Above Treeline, a stiff windslab is the top 30cm layer. A crust with loose weak facets can be found at lower elevations approximately 40-60cm down. The mid-pack is medium to hard stiffness of mixed crystal forms except where loose barely supportive Facets dominate in shallow locations.
Avalanche Summary
Sunday's Icefield's patrol noted a low elevation wet loose surface avalanche cycle with numerous size 1's. Saturday's patrol observed one size 2 on a West aspect initiating mid-path. Surface snowballing also occurred along the low roadside paths. Maligne observed one size 2.5, persistent slab, 200m wide and 1m deep initiated by a cornice failure.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
The main concern is where wind slabs have built over weak faceted snow. Watch for a hollow sounding snowpack. Strong ridgetop winds and snow transport continued on Sunday.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The slab problem overlies different layers depending on elevation and aspect. Lower elevations has a rain crust 40-60cm down with weak facets on top reacting to tests. Above 1950m, a buried surface facet layer down 20-30cm is the primary concern.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 24th, 2022 4:00PM
