Glide cracks

This is a giant glide crack formed across the National Geographics (NatGeos) in the Lake Louise backcountry. We have observed that many glide cracks have opened up so far this season, and wanted to flag this for people because it's not that common in the Rockies. Glide cracks are when the entire snowpack slides along slowly (or quickly) on the ground. The glide slabs below the crack are essentially unpredictable, although many loose theories abound about when they might release. Sometimes it's warming, other times it's sudden cooling. They are like a serac, take your chances if you go under one. They often glide a little bit each day and sometimes you can see evidence of this. They result from some mysterious combination of ground temperature, moisture, snow density and ground surface. Rock slabs and grass slopes are common gliding surfaces. Falling into one while riding would be ugly, they are like a shallow crevasse. Sometimes there is dirt and even birds down there. There is a big one across the ski line on Ogden Moraines to watch for, and we have seen many of them all over the treeline around Lake Louise and Hwy 93 north. Heads up. Parks Canada Visitor Safety