Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
The deep freeze continues to lock down the snowpack and keep us in low danger. Yesterday's trip to Mt. Field was rugged travel in the alders below treeline but good coverage in the alpine. Look here for a an alpine snow profile from this area.
Weather Forecast
Clear and cold continuing for the remainder of the week, but there is hope of warmer air arriving on the weekend. By next Monday we could even reach -5. Until then, bundle up its brutally cold out there.
Snowpack Summary
The low elevation snowpack in the Little Yoho region is shallow and facetted, with a total depth of <100 cm up to almost 2000 m elevation. Above that, the snow becomes much deeper and stronger with recent test results showing no significant weak layers or shears in the snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported today. They too were hiding from the cold.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Loose Dry
The surface snow is faceting rapidly and becoming weak, resulting in sluffs developing in steep and/or confined terrain. Ice climbers should be prepared for sluffing and spindrift and be wary of their exposure from above and below.
- Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
This problem has been unreactive now for 5 days, and we are unsure if it even exists in alpine areas in Little Yoho, although it has been detected up to treeline on Mt. Field.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 2