Good skiing and heavy trail breaking today with all the new snow. Below 1800m continue to watch for early season hazards lurking just below all the new snow. Happy Holidays!
Weather Forecast
Light amounts of precipitation and light winds from the W moving to the E are forecast over the next few days. Temperatures remain cool on the East side of the park with the influence of the arctic high, but will moderate slightly. The West side of the park will see more seasonal temperatures.
Snowpack Summary
At tree line 80cm of snow has fallen in the past 3 days with cool temperatures and light W winds. This snow is bonding well but is a significant load on any weaknesses in the snowpack. Buried wind slabs, and several early season crusts (mainly below 2000m) are under all this new snow and should still be considered as potential sliding layers.
Avalanche Summary
Surprisingly little avalanche activity has been observed with all the new snow. Loose snow avalanches up to size 1.5 have been observed out of very steep terrain at tree line and in the alpine. A couple of soft slabs up to size 2 have been seen out of steep wind loaded terrain at ridge crests, failing within the recent storm snow.
Confidence
Wind speed and direction is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
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.