Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
It is cold and the days are short. Start early and plan a turn around time that gets you back to the trail head well before dark.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
- Be aware of the potential for larger avalanches due to a buried surface hoar layer
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Variable winds formed pockets of wind slab in the alpine and exposed areas at tree line on all aspects. These slabs may have surface hoar or crust underneath, leading them to be sensitive to human triggering.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.
Avalanche Summary
One size 1.5 ski cut surface slab off the west face of Cheops. This slide was observed yesterday but suspect it happened in the Dec 24-25 time period.
Snowpack Summary
40-50cm of snow is settling into a persistent slab which sits on the Dec 15 surface hoar. Expect the slab to be more reactive as you transition into steep and/or wind effected terrain. Solar aspects have a thin crust layer below the slab. Light snow overnight will have buried a thin layer of surface hoar needles, the Dec 27 layer.
Weather Forecast
Today, light precipitation, an alpine high of -17C with W'ly winds in the light to moderate range. For Thursday through Friday we may receive 10cm of snow with light winds and warming temperatures.
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30-50cm of snow is settling into a persistent slab which sits on the Dec 15 surface hoar. Expect the slab to be more reactive as you transition into steep and/or wind effected terrain. Solar aspects have a thin crust layer below the slab.