Date issued

Mar 16, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Valid until

Mar 17, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Prepared by

snow safety

The new snow is bonding poorly to the old snow and is presently touchy. Watch out for large open areas, or gullied terrain that can gain mass quickly. More than 10 cm Saturday would quickly bring us back to considerable danger.

Regular season
Saturday - March 17, 2018
Alpine

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Sunday - March 18, 2018
Alpine

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Monday - March 19, 2018
Alpine

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Dry

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

The sun is strong right now and with this clear weather, it is destabilizing the snow on solar aspects in the afternoon. Generally these avalanches are running as loose wet and not stepping down to deeper layers, but the possibility remains.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Hot weather means cornice season, and this is the time when large mature cornices begin to fall off and the mountain sheds its snowpack. On ridges stay well away from cornices (they can reach back and get you), and avoid traveling under them.

Avalanche Summary

Storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were noted today in Yoho, Loose moist, size 1 avalanches were also noted.

Snowpack Summary

The majority of the old, settled snowpack is stable and recent tests have not found any weaknesses. 5-30 cm of new snow from the past two days has formed a soft slab, was distributed unevenly in Little Yoho, and is poorly bonded to melt-freeze or old snow layers .

Weather Forecast

Low elevation sites on the BC side of the Rockies have not recovered for a few days, and pockets of isothermal are present on the Field Back Road and the Tak Falls road. 10cm more upslope snow is expected Saturday.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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