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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2025–Mar 6th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

A light refresh from the 5cm overnight will improve travel conditions.

The persistent weak layer (PWL) in the upper snowpack is the main concern. Though it's out of sight, it should not be out of mind.

Variability in test results fuels uncertainty in this layer, and as a result, necessitates a cautious approach in the field.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Loose/dry surface sluffing is easily initiated by rider traffic.

The warm, wet cycle from earlier in the week triggered avalanches up to size 3.0, gouging to ground at lower elevations where the snowpack had become isothermal.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5cm of snow overnight has buried variable surfaces, including a breakable crust, widespread surface hoar, and sastrugi in the Alpine.

Lurking below this is a persistent weak layer (PWL) of surface hoar, facets and/or suncrust (Jan 30th) 50-80cm down. Feb 16 is another PWL (facets/crust/surface hoar) down 30-40cms. Both of these layers are reactive to human triggering, and are present/reactive in lesser traveled areas within the park (ie Bostock Pass).

Weather Summary

A drying trend over the next couple of days with seasonal temps and no snow.

Tonight Gradual clearing. Alpine low -7°C. Ridge winds 10km/h. Freezing level (FZL) 1000m

Thurs Mix of sun and cloud. Alp high -5°C. Light NW wind. FZL 1600m

Fri Mix of sun and cloud. Alp high -5°C. Ridge winds SW 20km/h. FZL 1600m

Sat Flurries. 5-10cm. Alp high -5°C. Ridge winds SW 30-45km/h. FZL 1400m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • A hard crust on the snow surface will help strengthen the snowpack, but may cause tough travel conditions.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.