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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 26th, 2023–Dec 27th, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

Good skiing exists where the wind has not disturbed the surface snow. The winds have been in the strong to extreme range for the last couple days. Caution immediate Lee's and cross loaded features where windslabs may be present.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Teams travelled in the Murray moraine valley today. Evidence of the early December avalanche cycle is still clearly visible. Continuous sluffing off steep rocky alpine features today with the wind. No slab activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack, where not affected by the wind is holding good quality skiing on low angle planner slopes. The early December crust found about 20-35cm down is keeping the ski's from diving down into the deeper weaker snowpack. In the short this crust is providing us with a good supportive snowpack to travel and ski on. In the long term however this will likely be the main sliding interface for avalanche activity. Continue to dig in the snowpack and observe the bond of the various crust/ snow interfaces. No snowpack summary is complete without a quick blurb about the deeper, basal problems. Depth hoar (extremely loose snow), is out there lurking at the bottom. Thick to thin transitional areas are the likely places for us to disturb it and cause a big avalanche.

Weather Summary

Tuesday brought strong to extreme winds at ridge top, Wednesday will see similar weather. With cloudy sky's and very strong winds from the SW. Day time highs will hover around +1 with freezing levels at 2000m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Aspect, aspect, aspect! Great ski quality was found today where the wind wasn't able to ruin the snow. Caution where fresh snow is being transported, fresh and reactive windslabs exist.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem will be with us all season and will be on our minds all the time. Terrain is your best way to help manage the uncertainty in the bottom part of the snowpack.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3