Take the time to gather information, assess the snowpack before committing to your line.
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy today with light flurries and a chance of sunny breaks this afternoon. Christmas day calls for a mix of sun and cloud as well. Alpine temperatures should remain cool in the -12C to -13C range and winds will be light. Snow is in the forecast once again Monday, with a shift to a SW flow aloft.
Snowpack Summary
Upwards of 100cm of snow has fallen at our Fidelity station (1900m, west end of Glacier Park) since December 19. The storm snow is slowly settling into a slab over the Dec 18th facet/surface hoar layer down 60cm. In many areas the storm snow remains loose and soft. Watch for wind effected snow.
Avalanche Summary
The last couple days of avalanche activity in the highway corridor has been limited to very steep terrain off Mt Tupper and Mt MacDonald. Info from Avalanche Crest area reported small convex rolls were shearing off 50cm down from the surface which would link to the December 18th facet/surface hoar being the weak layer.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.