Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2015 7:22AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Treeline areas have the best potential for powder turns. Alpine terrain is mainly wind affected but hey, the windslab is supportive in most areas making for fast travel!

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

No new snow over the weekend. NW flow will continue in the moderate range at the higher eleavations and temperatures will continue to remain seasonal.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed on Friday but over teh past 72hrs there have been a few slides up to sz 2 on solar aspects and a few isolated windslabs up to sz 2 on more northern aspects. Most of these slides are at treeline and down 30-50cm on what we suspect is the Dec 13th crust.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind affect in alpine terrain. Treeline areas have pockets of wind slabs in open areas and good snow in more sheltered terrain. The Dec 13th Rain Crust is being found up to 2200m on all aspects. Its currently buried down 30-50cm with a weak layer of facets overlying this crust. The mid pack continues to settle and strengthen and the Nov 6th crust is down 100-140cm in most areas but it is showing signs of breaking down. Solar aspects have a thin melt freeze crust on steeper areas up to 2500m.

Problems

Wind Slabs

A good chunk of the alpine terrain is wind affected right now. The odd whumpfing from thinner snowpack areas but no cracking was observed. Be careful around thin weak areas.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.>Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

At treeline there has been a few natural avalanche on this interface. Be sure to evaluate it as you commit to terrain.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.>Avoid unsupported slopes.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

No action on this deep interface of late but its still in our minds. Continue to evaluate the Nov 6th crust.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2015 2:00PM