Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 1st, 2014 9:40AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Still some great skiing but watch out for thin new crusts forming on sun exposed terrain. Not a great deal of natural avalanche activity but it seems as if every day there is at least one new large event occurring - most originating at treeline.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Wednesday - alpine t3emps near -7 deg.Â Winds light from NW and a mix os sun and cloud with some light convective flurries.Â A small wave of new precip looks like it will hit the area by Friday.

Avalanche Summary

Not a lot of new activity however there was one new natural Size 3.5 on along Pocaterra Ridge which ran to the middle of the runout zone jumping one hump and clearing timber from it and along the edge as well. Evidence of several other Size 2-3 over past several days in seldom visited areas - some of these started in thin rocky areas along ridgetops and picked up significant volume as they moved downslope

Snowpack Summary

Some solar influences late in PM on steep sun exposed slopes with moist snow down 10cm. Recent storm snow settling with warming temps in PM. Consistently finding hard shears on the Feb 10 down 90-130cm - the shears are still sudden planar when they occur.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

In a couple of new profiles on Tuesday we found this layer still producing clean shears in the 'hard' range down as much as 130cm near the divide.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Wind Slabs

Previously formed windslabs are now hidden beneath the recent storm snow the area has received.

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Loose Wet

Some loose moist surface activity on steep solar aspects - the sun is starting to pack a lot of punch now that we have moved into April .

Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.>Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 2nd, 2014 2:00PM