Rising temperatures and freezing levels should make for an enjoyable day in the mountains.
Windslabs can be found in a wide range of areas due to changing wind directions. Assess the deep persistent slab as you choose terrain, as it remains a low probability but high consequence problem in the snowpack.
Winds have built wind slabs in the alpine and treeline. Winds have been variable in direction so watch for reverse loading. Avalanches may step down to the Deep Persistent Layer.
A variety of crusts with facets 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.
No new avalanches observed along the Icefields Parkway on January 25th.
No notable avalanches have been observed since avalanche control at Parker Ridge on January 17th produced size 2.5 slab avalanches stepping down to basal deep persistent layer at the bottom of the snowpack.
Widespread wind effect at alpine and treeline has formed wind slabs over a weak faceted mid pack. At the bottom of the snowpack are the early season crusts, which are faceting and often surrounded by large depth hoar. The snowpack is 70-130 cm in depth at treeline, and thins quickly below treeline.
Sunday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High 2 °C. Ridge wind northwest: 10 km/h. Freezing level: 2300 metres.
MondaySunny Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low 1 °C, High 3 °C. Ridge wind northwest: 10-25 km/h. Freezing level: 2900 metres.
TuesdayA mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -5 °C, High 1 °C. Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h. Freezing level: 2300 metres.
