Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Haines Pass.
Conservative terrain travel is recommended, as riders could trigger buried weak layers.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Many natural and rider-triggered avalanches released last Thursday on the weak layers described in the Snowpack Summary (see photos below). These weak layers may take some time to strengthen, meaning they will likely remain active to human traffic for the foreseeable future.
Please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow has been redistributed by southerly winds and has likely formed wind slabs adjacent to ridges. The snow surface on sun-exposed slopes will likely become moist during the day and freeze into a hard melt-freeze crust overnight.
Weak layers of surface hoar crystals and/or faceted grains may be found around 30 to 70 cm deep. The weak layer may be associated with a hard melt-freeze crust above or below. These layers produced recent avalanche activity and are unstable in snowpack tests.
Cornices are large and looming at this time of year.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Tuesday
Clear skies. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.
Thursday
Clear skies. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets and/or surface hoar is buried around 50 to 70 cm deep. The layer is most prominent on terrain features sheltered from the wind.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches could occur on steep sun exposed slopes. Cornices are also large and may weaken with daytime warming.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5