Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 23rd, 2017 3:00PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Good route selection is key to minimize exposure on larger slopes.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Forecast for Tuesday indicates mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, light ridgetop winds and alpine temperature of -11c. The rest of the week is looking like a mix of sun and cloud with light winds and temperatures around the -12.

Avalanche Summary

Snowpack Summary

Mostly a weak snowpack. The upper third of the snowpack is comprised of laminated windslabs overlying a weak midpack and basal facets.. BTL, the facets are even more prominent through most of the snowpack making travel even more challenging.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

If this layers if triggered, there is a likelihood of entraining the entire snowpack with it

Avoid cross loaded features.Avoid unsupported slopes.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The big concern is that if anything gets triggered within the snowpack, then the entire snowpack would fail on the basal facets.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 24th, 2017 2:00PM