Highway 93 will be closed Thursday at Parkers ridge to Big Bend from 1145 to 1500hrs for explosive control work. Expect delays.
Weather Forecast
Light flurries and no significant snow now to Monday. Winds will be light Westerly to Southwesterly. Temperatures will range -5 to -15.
Snowpack Summary
20cm of storm snow sits on top of a 10cm thick laminated crust at tree line, below the crust is 20-30cm of moist snow to ground. Pockets of wind slab exist in the alpine and may rest on the crust where it's expected to exist up to 2600m. Below tree line is un-skiable due to lack of snow and early season conditions exist at all elevations.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity noted on Tuesday and no signs of instability in the Parker Ridge area. Banff had a near miss Tuesday with an iceclimber taking a 300m ride in a size 2 slab. This is noteworthy to remain vigilant where localized winds can form slabs.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
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.