Kick the tires and light the fires! Reports of excellent skiing at treeline right now.
New soft windslabs have formed in the lee areas from the storm that just pushed through. The distribution at treeline is more isolated.
Avalanche control work in the Parker Ridge area yesterday produced little results, only 2 soft size 2 wind slabs were triggered from 15 explosive shots. On our drive back to town we had decent visibility and observed no new natural avalanches.
More snow on the horizon.
Friday: Periods of snow. Up to 15cm with temps around -5 to -10. Light to moderate SW winds.
Saturday: Flurries with up to 10cm. Light SW winds and temps ranging from -5 to -15.
Sunday: Sun and cloud with cooler temps -10 to -20 with mostly light winds
Details here: Mountain Weather Forecast.
Up to 30cm of new snow in the Columbia Icefields area fell on to a mix of surfaces; surface facets, surface hoar, and previous wind slab and/or hard wind pressed surfaces. The moderate winds built soft wind slabs at ridge tops. Oct. and Nov. crusts are preserved in the mid and lower snowpack and both seem have a good bond to the overlaying snow.
