Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2017 3:11PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Even though the hazard is moderate and good skiing can be found, remember that the basal weak layer of facets and depth hoar should be part of every decision.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods for Monday. Alpine temperature of -16c and west ridge winds of 10km/hr.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose dry avalanches size 2 were noticed along highway #40.

Snowpack Summary

The forecasters were up in the Black Prince area today digging a profile at tree line. There is about 50cm snow overlying a thin crust which is producing easy test results in our snow pit today. We also found that the bottom half of the snowpack consisted of facets and depth hoar. Upon more tests, we got the entire column to fail on the basal depth hoar 35cm off the ground. All in all, good skiing but it is difficult to travel on steeper slopes for the fact that if the slope is triggered at a weak spot, the entire snowpack could avalanche.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have created isolated windslabs in lee and cross loaded areas

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The buried hardslab is the concern here. Probing with a ski pole is the best way to monitor its location. Expect wide propagations if it does get triggered.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

This layer will be with us for the year and should be put into every slope decision.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2017 2:00PM