Decent skiing/riding conditions are upon us. Standard safe back country travel techniques are always to be used. Avoid cornices, unsupported terrain features, areas where the snowpack is thin or shallow and terrain traps.
Weather Forecast
A "rex blocker" high pressure system sits off the coast of BC carrying cold air with it from the north. Expect convective flurries today with an alpine high of -12 deg and light winds. A change in the weather pattern is anticipated starting early next week. Precipitation is forecasted to start Tuesday with warming temperatures and increasing winds.
Snowpack Summary
Surface hoar to size 3 was observed yesterday in the Sir Don range. The SH overlies 10-20 cm of recent HST sitting on a variety of surfaces depending on aspect, elevation and drainage. Near the Illecillewaet Glacier we observed a crust to 1900m under the new snow, while on the west side of the park the crust was less prevalent and buried 35cm.
Avalanche Summary
2 size 2- 2.5 slab avalanches occurred yesterday off the north side of Mt. Macdonald in the highway corridor. 1 skier accidental size 1 wind slab was triggered on Glacier Crest. Small sluffs were observed by field teams on Wednesday in steep north aspects at TL, running slow and stopping short.
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.