Date issued

Jan 26, 2018 - 8:09 AM

Valid until

Jan 27, 2018 - 8:00 AM

Prepared by

mark herbison

Recent moderate winds building wind slab in the Alpine and at Tree Line. Human triggering of avalanches remains likely.

High quality skiing is found in sheltered areas Tree Line and below.

Regular season
Thursday - January 25, 2018
Alpine

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.

Treeline

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.

Below 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.

Friday - January 26, 2018
Alpine

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.

Treeline

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.

Below 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.

Saturday - January 27, 2018
Alpine

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.

Treeline

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.

Below Treeline

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.

Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs

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

Recent moderate southerly winds have redistributed storm snow into wind slab. The slab will be most sensitive in lee areas at ridge line and exposed areas at tree line. If triggered, the slab could step down to deeper weak layers.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs

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

Persistent weak layers present a lower likelihood / high consequence scenario with the Jan 16th, 4th and Dec 15th surface hoar layers. These layers could be sensitive to human triggering in thin areas, or overloads from storm slab avalanches.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural avalanches size 2-2.5 observed along the highway corridor yesterday. Avalanche control two days ago produced results up to size 2.5.

No reports of recent avalanche activity in the back-country. If you see anything, please submit a Mountain Information Network (MIN) Report.

Snowpack Summary

50cm+ storm snow in the last 4 days at 1900m and over 150cm of snow in the last 2 weeks. Expect to find fresh wind slab along ridge lines and lee features due to the 30km/hr south winds in the alpine. The Jan 16 surface hoar is down ~50cm, Jan 4 down ~70 and Dec 15 down ~1m+ making for a complex sandwich of weak layers.

Weather Forecast

A brief relief today from the smorgasbord of winter storms, but the all you can ride/ski powder buffet is still open for business. The day will be mostly cloudy with light snow flurries and periods of sun. Alpine high of -11 with 20-35km/hr southwest winds. The next pacific storm pulse arrives tomorrow with a promising forecast of 70cm in four days

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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