Uncertainty remains on how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
Conditions will vary with elevation, from wet snow to surface crust.
Make observations as you travel.
Triggering remains possible in areas where the surface snow is still wet. Large avalanches are possible at lower elevations, where the snowpack is wet to the ground.
The upper snowpack is soaked and overlies a supportive crust. Use caution at elevations without a supportive surface crust, where triggering may still be possible.
On Thursday, numerous wet loose and wet slab avalanches (up to size 2.5) were observed in the surrounding terrain of Castle Mountain.
In the neighboring Fernie region, very large avalanche debris (up to size 3) were reported, indicating a widespread natural cycle occuring Wednesday to Thursday.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing conditions via the MIN.
High freezing levels and heavy rain have saturated the top 20 to 50 cm of surface snow up to the mountain tops.
As freezing levels drop, a widespread crust will start to form on all aspects and higher elevations.
Below this, 30 to 50 cm of wet snow sits above a crust.
The mid and lower snowpack are generally well consolidated with early-season crusts deep in the snowpack.
The snowpack rapidly diminishes at lower elevations and is moist to the ground in shallower areas.
Friday Night
Cloudy. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
