Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Oct 8th, 2019 3:00PM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Loose Dry and Wind Slabs.

Alberta Parks mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

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Winter has arrived this past week and climbers and skiers need to be thinking about avalanche conditions.  Share you observsations on the MIN as this time of year we are fairly data sparse....

Summary

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

Snow will continue early this week before returning to more seasonal fall temperatures. 

Avalanche Summary

Observations are limited but there has been evidence of loose dry avalanches from steeper terrain up to sz 2. Get on the MIN, Email us, facebook us etc. Share what you are seeing! avalanche.safety@gov.ab.ca

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40-50cm of snow can be found at treeline in some areas with areas or windblown snow up to 1m. Lots of early season hazards exist and observations are limited but winter has seemed to arrive here this past week. If there is enough snow to ride, there is enough to slide. Where people are commonly keen to go is where its blown in ie. Windslabs. Be thinking about consequences if you choose to ski. Ice climbers be aware that loose dry sluffs can have large consequences on routes. Pockets of windslabs may also be found along routes in benched terrain or along ridgelines/side walls of gullies.

Problems

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Loose dry events from steeper terrain.

  • Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Be careful around gullied terrain such as sidewalls as well as along ridgelines.

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Oct 9th, 2019 3:00PM