Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 6th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada DK, Avalanche Canada

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Recent spring-like conditions didn't improve the overall quality of the snowpack. It remains a cold, mid-winter snowpack with active persistent and deep persistent problems!

Continue to use caution on any large slopes in the alpine or at treeline.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

The field team on Monday triggered a sz 1.5 persistent slab on a south asp. at TL in Boundary Lake on the Parkway. Triggered with a whumph and was slow to initiate.

No new avalanches were reported by Field Teams on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

A light dusting of recent snow sits over a variable, almost always breakable crust. This crust can seen as a 1-3 temp crust over facets on shaded aspects, up to a 15-20cm melt freeze crust observed on solar asps, over the DPL, especially at TL.

Persistent and deep persistent weak layers remain ever-present and active. Do not put your trust in either of these layers. Both are showing some potential to propagate in snowpit tests.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Overnight: Low in the Icefields: -13°C

Wednesday: Mainly cloudy. Alpine High -5 °C; Light right top winds. Freezing level: 1500m

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Our recent melt-freeze cycle was not strong enough to heal our persistent slab problem. This weak layer, buried 20-40cm deep, is still reactive in snowpit tests and human triggering remains possible, particularly in shallow rocky start zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Human and natural triggering of these basal facets remains possible.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Feb 7th, 2024 4:00PM