Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, Spray - KLakes.
Use good discipline and don't push into bigger terrain. The snowpack is so variable (thick to thin) and thin weak areas are commonplace. These are the places where a skier could trigger the deeper slab problem.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed.
Snowpack Summary
A very thin crust exists just below the snow surface, but thankfully this crust disappears above 2000m. A buried layer of surface hoar down 15 to 30cm at treeline continues to produce shears, but the main concern in the snowpack is the persistent moderate shears failing down 70 to 80cm in the mid-November facets. Despite these layers gaining a bit of strength, the lower half of the snowpack remains very weak, and any avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down to the lower weaknesses. Thin and rocky areas are of particular concern for triggering the deeper weak layers. Below 2100m the snowpack does not support the weight of a skier if you leave an established skin track.
Weather Summary
Saturday will see North winds becomming more westerly later in the day and temperatures in the -4C range throughout the day under partly cloudy skies. Winds will increase into the moderate range as they shift to the west mid-day. No snow is forecast for this area until Sunday where 5-8cm of snow is forecast to fall.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
This layer is likely to come off the bulletin until spring. The weak facetted base is widepsread and can be triggered more easily from a thin snowpack area.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Persistent Slabs
The persistent slab can be found in sheltered areas where the surface hoar was present and in alpine terrain where it is evident as more of a facet interface.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2