Field teams over the last couple of days have noted a big difference between snowpacks west of the divide and those east of the divide. Although it is still thin at lower elevations in both areas, the snowpack is much thicker and more confidence inspiring at treeline and above if you are in a thicker, western area.
Moderate SW/W winds during the storm have created wind slabs in lee features in the alpine. Activity has tapered, but we are uncertain how prevalent the problem is.
Two weak layers near the base of the snowpack (Oct 20 and Nov 9) are producing slab avalanches down about 60-100 cm. Surface windslabs have the potential to step down to this layer. This layer has been most reactive in steep, thin, wind affected areas.
Lake Louise threw a bunch of explosives with minimal results today. Over the past few days, similar explosives have triggered isolated wind slabs and a number of deep persistent avalanches.
Windslabs exist in exposed and wind-prone alpine. In sheltered areas, soft snow sits on a layer of facets, suncrust and isolated surface hoar. Below this, the midpack is thin, weak in eastern regions, and deeper and denser in areas west of the divide. Two crust/facet layers exist near the bottom of the snowpack (Nov. 9th and Oct. 20th interfaces). Total snowpack depths at treeline are generally 60cm in eastern areas with up to 100 cm in thicker western areas
Light winds, treeline temperatures around -8C, and only a trace of snow for Thursday. See image below for more details.
