The deep persistent problem is still a problem. Watch for isolated wind slabs in the high alpine and thin to thick snowpack areas where triggering the deep persistent slab is more likely.
Start and end your day early to beat the daytime warming!
Even though daytime temperatures will be slightly cooler, the sun will still have a significant effect on the snowpack. Plan to travel early and be off steep slopes before the heat of the day.
This is combination of midseason persistent weak layers and the weak facets & depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. Field team observed 3 x size 2 deep persistent slab avalanches on Saturday 26th. These were triggered by smaller avalanches, which then stepped down to these weaker layers.
Three size 2 deep persistent slab avalanches were observed on Saturday (26th) along the Icefields Parkway, along with numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 2. Northerly aspects in the alpine were also beginning to produce wet loose avalanches up to size 1 on steep terrain features.
In sheltered northerly slopes above 2600m, anywhere from 5-20 cm of soft snow exists. Isolated wind slabs exist on wind exposed lee slopes in the alpine. The upper snowpack at treeline and below is a series of crusts. In the alpine, the lower snowpack is dry, faceted, and weak. High north aspects offer the best spring riding conditions, though the snowpack remains susceptible to triggering deeper, unstable layers.
Freezing level will drop to valley bottom on Sunday evening. Monday will see a mix of sun and cloud, winds gusting to 40km/h and with an alpine high of 0 °C. Freezing levels will reach 2200m. Tuesday will bring similar conditions but with a little more sunshine.
