Rider triggering of the Nov 17 persistent weak layer is possible. Pay attention to signs of instability, including whumphing, cracking and settlements.
Be very cautious stepping out into terrain that hasn't seen significant skier traffic.
Wind slabs created on the weekend are slowly gaining strength. Watch for hard deposits of snow in the alpine and open areas at treeline formed by strong SW winds.
The Nov 17 surface hoar, facets and crust is in rider triggering range down 50-90cm. Moderate stability test results were recently observed on this layer Wednesday. Be cautious stepping out in terrain that hasn't been previously received skier traffic.
Few natural avalanches have been observed along the highway corridor in the last 3 days. No new reports of backcountry rider triggered avalanches.
One MIN report of 'whumpfing' and remote triggering several avalanches up to size 1.5, ~50cm deep, on moraine features below Glacier Crest on Monday. A Parks Canada field team experienced widespread 'whumpfing' at treeline and below in the Fidelity area on Monday as well.
5-10 cm of fresh storm snow on Wednesday with light winds. This overlies wind slabs in alpine and treeline lee features built by strong SW winds. The Nov 17 persistent slab (surface hoar 5-30mm, facets, and crust) is down 70-90cm with the largest surface hoar present at treeline and below.
Snowpack depth is still variable, with early season hazard BTL.
Keep your warmest layers close at hand, Friday will be frigid, with a warming trend through Sunday. Isolated flurries are forecast.
Friday: Cloudy and sunny periods w/ isolated flurries, Alpine high of -17*C, light SW ridge-top winds.
Sat: Sunny w/cloudy periods, Isolated flurries, ridge wind light westerly, Alpine highs of -6*C.
Sun: Sunny w/cloudy periods, ridge wind light NW, Alp high of -3*C, fz lvl 1200m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
