Jasper

The snowpack is still adjusting to the load from this week's storm and is structurally weak. Make conservative decisions until the new snow has had time to settle and stabilize.

Good skiing is out there but the threat of early season hazards is real and just below the surface. Read a recent report from Parkers here.

Numerous storm slab avalanches released during Tuesday's storm, failing on the Dec 2 surface hoar, facet and melt-freeze crust layer.

More information on a size 1.5 near Parkers ridge behind Hilda hostel can be found here (Here).

30cm of new snow from this week's storm has formed a persistent slab and windslab where it has been redistributed by strong winds. This overlies a weak surface hoar and facet layer or a melt-freeze crust on south and west aspects. The snowpack is 35-45cm in depth with a weak facetted base.

A rain crust exists below 1800m.

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available from Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods. Ridgetop westerly winds 10-20 km/h.

Alpine temperature: High -9 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries bringing a trace amount of snow. Ridgetop wind southwest 20-35 km/h.

Alpine temperature: Low -16 °C, High -13 °C.

• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.