Good skiing exists in areas that have been sheltered from the wind.
Assess wind loading on open slopes before committing to terrain as windslabs may remain reactive to human triggers.
Recent winds have created wind slabs in the alpine and treeline. These windslabs may be sitting on top of facets or the January 30th crust.
A variety of crusts with Depth Hoar above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Numerous Loose dry avalanches and one cornice fall that did not produce a slab were observed on steep solar aspects on the 17th.
There was a size 1 wind slab skier accidental reported on the back side of Parkers Ridge on the 14th. Check out the MIN on the main map for more information.
Marmot Basin was able to produce a size 2 cornice triggered avalanche with explosives on the 14th where the cornice chunks entrained loose dry snow.
In the alpine and treeline there has been widespread wind affect. In sheltered areas there is roughly 15cm of snow overlying the January 30th layer which is a temperature crust or wind slab depending on the area.
The midpack is weak and faceted. At the bottom of the snowpack the early season crusts are faceting and breaking down but continue to persist along with large depth hoar. The snowpack at tree line is 70-130 cm in the Icefields area and 50 cm in the Maligne area.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -12 °C.
Light ridge wind.
WednesdayCloudy with sunny periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -17 °C, High -8 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.
ThursdayCloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -9 °C, High -7 °C.
Ridge wind west: 15-25 km/h.
