Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Jasper.
Cooler temperatures the next couple of days helps overall stability. A little bit of new snow will improve ski quality.
Weather Forecast
Friday will bring clouds, flurries, a trace amount of snow, -6 C, light winds, and 1400m freezing level. Saturday will be clouds, sun, flurries, trace of snow, -10 to -4C, light East winds, and 1700m freezing level.
Snowpack Summary
Expect a little bit of snow on a supportive melt-freeze crust on all aspects and elevations except for most high Northerly where it can be dry and powdery. The mid-pack is thick and supportive. Weak faceted crystals linger at the bottom of the snowpack and remain a concern particularly in shallow snow-packs.
Avalanche Summary
No patrol occurred on Thursday and nothing new was reported. Wednesday's field patrol in the Icefields noted one loose wet slab size 2 and another slab to ground on SW face size 2 in the Sunwapta falls area.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Start early to avoid this problem. Cooler temperatures, cold nights, North and Easterly winds, and clouds will make this less of a concern the next couple of days. Be vigilant for an increase in activity if the sun makes an appearance.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Cornices
These features are large, dense and heavy and will possibly trigger the deeper instability on the slope below. If you must travel near or below cornices, use good travel techniques and group management to reduce exposure.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger persistent slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5
Persistent Slabs
Shallow snowpack areas in the alpine and some treeline locations have the potential for human triggered and natural avalanches stepping to deeper layers if you get it wrong.
- Choose regroup spots carefully.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3