Avalanche Forecast
Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks
It's winter! This means its time to carry your avalanche safety gear and choose terrain wisely. We are reluctant to use hazard ratings due to our very limited field observations, but the current avalanche problems deserve attention.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be very cautious with gully features.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Dry
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
This will be a problem in steep terrain. Early season ice climbers should watch for sluffing.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing noted, but visibility was very limited.
Snowpack Summary
Prior to this current storm, we had 10-20cm of wind blown snow that began to fill gullies and alpine bowls. This most recent snow now sits on either bare ground, or these previously wind deposited gully and bowl features. Recent winds have been mostly from the north, expect freshly formed wind slabs on SE to SW aspects. Snow depths at 2200m range from 30 to 60cm. Sheltered areas and confined gullies are capable of loose dry sluffs in steep terrain.
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud is expected for Saturday with cool temperatures and light SW winds. Sunday will be similar, but with scattered light flurries.
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Fresh wind slabs are likely to be found in gullies and other terrain features that held wind deposited snow from previous storms. Also look for slabs immediately below ridge-crest. As winds shift to the SW expect more widespread slab development.