Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 5th, 2017 8:01AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

ross campbell, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Keep your guard up, conditions can change quickly with sun or wind effect. Dig down and assess the storm snow before committing to your line. Even with a "Moderate" hazard rating, human triggered avalanches are still possible.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will slowly rise today as a high-pressure system engulfs us over the forecast period. Freezing levels will rise today in the Alpine and skyrocket on Thursday & Friday as an inversion settles in. Today an alpine high of -5, light to moderate winds from the westerly quarter and no precipitation.

Snowpack Summary

50cm of last week's storm snow is mostly "right side up" except in the Alpine and exposed areas at tree line where the wind has gotten to it. The November 26th/23rd crust complex is buried now approximately 60-80cm, which is still moist in some locations. Recent compression tests have been in the moderate to hard range, typically resistant planar.

Avalanche Summary

Natural activity tapered off yesterday, with only one size 2 natural observed in the highway corridor out of extreme terrain. Skiers in the Video Peak area yesterday, reported an old size 1 on a steep unsupported feature, probably failing in the storm snow.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

Problems

Wind Slabs

50cm of low-density storm snow is been redistributed by moderate winds in the alpine and exposed areas at treeline. Wind slabs have been quite variable and will be most volatile on unsupported, convex terrain features.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Solar warming today could trigger loose dry avalanches on steep solar aspects. This avalanche problem will peak on Thursday and Friday, with freezing levels forecasted to reach 3000m!

On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 6th, 2017 8:00AM