The possibility of triggering a deep persistent slab in steep rocky terrain remains our main avalanche concern, with the dangerous nature of the ski conditions following quickly behind.
Use caution if you're heading into higher consequence terrain, or gaining any significant velocity.
Previous strong winds have stripped exposed alpine and tree-line terrain, creating wind slabs in cross-loaded and lee features.
You must keep this basal layer on your radar as triggering is possible in some features, like approaching or moving between pitches on ice climbs. Be cautious in steep terrain if you find yourself standing on the surface and not wallowing in facets, that's the problem slab.
No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported in the last few days.
There has been extensive wind effect at tree line and above, with windward aspects scoured bare, and hard wind slabs/wind effected snow on lee features. Sheltered areas have a weak faceted snowpack with the Dec 2nd surface hoar down 20-30cm, and depth hoar making up the bottom 10-30cm. Two thin melt freeze crusts from December (5th and 22nd) warming events exist below 1800m. Average snow depth at at tree line is 40-60cm.
Mild and breezy weather with the possibility of a few flurries near the icefields will continue for the next few days.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
