Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Apr 8 – 9, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Good skiing is found in the region with winter like conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Pockets of 10-30cm thick windslabs are in high elevation alpine ridgetops and crossloaded gullies. They are generally well bonded but pockets of instability exist. Propagations of 50-100m were noted last week but have subsided.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3
    Persistent slabs sit on facets on North aspects and a hard melt-freeze crust on solar aspects. Use a cautious approach and assess the bond at these interfaces before committing to a slope.

Weather Forecast

Monday will be Cloudy with sun and flurries, trace snow, high's of -3, light West winds, and 2000m freezing level. Tuesday will be flurries, possibly 10cm Tuesday into Wednesday, -7 to -1, Light SW winds gusting strong with 2100m freezing level. Wednesday will be sun and cloud, flurries, High -4 C, and light SW winds.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs are in open high alpine areas with localized winds. The upper snowpack is a 50 to 80 cm thick slab that bridges three weak layers in the mid-pack. Whumpfing and collapses were noted on the Mt. Kitchener slopes facing the highway last week yet natural activity has tapered off.

Avalanche Summary

Sunday patrol noted very little in fresh natural activity as the sun was kept at bay by cloud cover. Some size 1 moist surface sluffing was noted on steep sun facing gullies when the sun did make a brief appearance.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Wednesday

Regions covered