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Snowpack Summary
Seasonal height of snow (HS) 77cm, with previous and new storm snow (HST) totaling about 40cm over a late Oct. (Oct 24) crust. Weak faceted crystals to ground. For more information on early season conditions visit avalanche.ca.
Avalanche Summary
Saturday, Nov. 3rd, technicians traveled at TL and into the lower alpine on Parkers Ridge. They found a weak, unsettled snowpack. Whumphing was noted at TL in open tress, on NE aspects. Pockets of windslab, Up to 20cm deep was observed in the alpine with moderate loading expected to continue into the week.
Confidence
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.