Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Jan 25 – 26, 2017Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The danger is at moderate currently, but forecasters are still approaching Alpine and treeline terrain as if its at considerable.  We are unwilling to commit to bigger terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    If this layers if triggered, there is a likelihood of entraining the entire snowpack with it

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The big concern is that if anything gets triggered within the snowpack, then the entire snowpack would fail on the basal facets.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods.Precipitation: Nil.Alpine temperature: High -6 °C.Ridge wind northwest: 25 km/h.Freezing level: 1300 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity

Snowpack Summary

Below treeline travel is fairly grim.  Expect ski penetrations to ground in many areas and the best solution to getting up to the skiing is via an old established up-track.  At treeline and above the upper snowpack has 30-40cm of settled snow that is overlying the weak basal facets.  Moderate compression tests that are sudden collapse in nature are being observed at this interface.  Thin weak spots are the most likely areas where a skier could cause a failure.  As a result choose supported terrain, and avoid thin areas.  The only skiing to be found is at treeline and above.  If you are looking for turns below treeline, look elsewhere!

Regions covered