In terrain where there is enough smooth snow for good riding, there is a possibility of human triggered avalanches. Slopes that are typically wind loaded are likely the most dangerous.
Wind loaded areas will be the most likely to avalanche. These slopes may have deep enough snow to be above the threshold for avalanches, and the wind deposited snow is more likely to slide in one big chunk.
In terrain where early season snow survived through November, it may have become a layer of weak, sugary snow near the ground. This would only be an avalanche problem on smooth ground (grass, shale, etc.) Do you know what's under the snow?
Recent avalanche reports have been limited.
Earlier in the week, west of Invermere, a small rider triggered avalanche was reported around treeline on a smooth, shale slope. Weak, sugary snow right above the ground was the likely culprit.
This type of avalanche would be possible anywhere else that this similar setup exists, likely where early season snow survived through November.
Snowpack observations have been limited, but our snowpack models suggest that there is an average 55 cm of snow at treeline, tapering rapidly below.
The upper half of that snowpack is expected to be soft, recent snowfall, and the lower half is expected to be mostly frozen crusts or settled snow.
The snowpack generally seems to be right side up and strong, though some areas may have some weak sugary snow near the ground.
In many areas, especially below treeline, there is not be enough snow to overcome surface roughness and be above the threshold for avalanches.
Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow at treeline. 0 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 3 to 4 cm of snow at treeline. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Saturday
Sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
