10-15cm of snow is forecast over the next few days with generally seasonal temperatures. Areas of hard slabs should be expected in Alpine areas. Already one near miss on a popular ice climb so be heads up.
Summary
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number and quality of field observations
Weather Forecast
Forecasts are calling for 10-18cm of snow over the next 36hours with cooling temperatures and moderate to light winds. If we get the forecasted snow, the pockets of harder slabs may be tougher to located.
Avalanche Summary
A few smaller slabs were observed along east aspects in alpine terrain. None of these slabs were bigger than sz 1.
Snowpack Summary
Still below threshold amounts below treeline but as you get closer to treeline and above (mainly above) we are seeing snow begin to accumulate. Winds over the past few days have created pockets of dense windslabs in alpine areas that are concentrated in gullies, crossloaded features and along ridgelines. These slabs if they were to be triggerred would likely fail at the interface with the ground. Unsupported features such as steps between pitches of ice climbs, we well as gullies above and below ice climbs should be treated with caution. Scramblers should also pay close attention to these pockets of hard slabs along routes.
mike.koppang,
Alberta Parks
