A skier accidental size 3 on Vermillion Peak today has created uncertainty with forecasters. Focus on North, shady and polar aspects, and avoid steep sunny slopes where this crust lives, even though the air temp is cold.
The crust facet layer down 20-60cm on steep slopes at treeline and above has produced a sz 3 skier accidental avalanche on Mar 8. This avalanche has created much uncertainty. The buried crust will be more prominent on solar aspects, less so on polar.
Cool temperatures will persist into Wednesday with the alpine ridge temp as cold as -25. Wednesday also appears generally clear with light wind from the SW. Cloud cover, and slightly warming temps are expected Thursday and Friday.
5-20 cm of snow over a sun crust on steep solar aspects that exists up to about 2600 m. Little in the way of wind slab development today. February 16 sun crust down 20-40 cm on steep southerly aspects. January 30 facet or sun crust interface is down 50-80 cm. Lower snowpack is well settled. Typical shallow areas remain faceted.
A skier triggered a large persistent slab (size 3) on the south slope of Vermillion Peak. No involvement was reported. Details available on the MIN. This avalanche has created much uncertainty amongst forecasters. Forecasters also received a report of a cornice triggered size 2.5 avalanche on Mt. Carnavon in Yoho that occurred within 24 hours.
