Happy Holidays! Ski quality is slowly improving along the divide, but persistent weak layers remain deep in the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
We are entering a fairly benign weather pattern, with alpine temperatures remaining in the negative teens. We may see increasing cloudiness, moderate westerly winds and some flurries on Boxing day.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack remains variable with depths ranging from 20 to 160cm along the divide. 10cm of blower sits on a variety of wind affected surfaces including wind slabs from the previous storm. The lower snowpack appears to be gaining strength in deeper areas, though thin areas remain weak.
Avalanche Summary
Isolated loose dry avalanches were observed in steep north facing alpine terrain near Cameron Lake. Our neighbours continue to see explosives triggering wind slabs to size 2
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.