Conditions have changed in the alpine. Be aware of touchy new windslabs as you transition into wind affected terrain at treeline and above.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures to remain mild but below freezing above 1200m. Light scattered flurries amounting to less than 5cm, with moderate Southwest winds in the alpine over the next 36 hours.
Snowpack Summary
Pockets of wind slab can be found in exposed terrain tree line and above. These pockets are sitting on a weak layer of facets. 10cm of new snow in the past 72 hours has helped to freshen things up a bit, but along with moderate Southwest winds has increased the likelihood of touchy new wind slabs on lee aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Reports of small size1 loose dry avalanches on steep solar terrain along the Icefields Parkway today. One size 1.5 windslab was observed at 2300m on a cross loaded feature.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.