Avalanche Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear skies, moderate southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -16 C.

SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries in the afternoon, light to moderate southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -9 C.

MONDAY: A mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries, trace new snow, light wind, treeline temperatures around -10 C.

TUESDAY: A mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries, trace new snow, light wind, treeline temperatures around -11 C.

No recent avalanches have been reported. However, cornices are growing fragile with continued cold conditions faceting their bonds. Cornices are a significant hazard underfoot when travelling along ridge crests as well as an overhead hazard when lurk above steep leeward slopes.

Alpine and upper treeline terrain is heavily wind affected with large regions of scoured surfaces, pockets of soft wind transported snow and pockets of hard wind slab in lee regions or ridge crests. A hard crusts found below 1800 m and increases in thickness with lower elevation. Surface hoar and near-surface faceting continues to develop with cold clear temperatures and is slowly softening these various hard surfaces and also weakening the bonds of cornices. 

A solid mid-pack sits above some decomposing crust and facet layers near the bottom of the snowpack (100-150 cm deep). Avalanche activity on these layers has been sporadic, mostly triggered by large loads such as wind slab avalanches and cornice falls. These layers should be unreactive under the current conditions, but steep rocky slopes should still be carefully assessed and approached with caution.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.