Date issued

Nov 9, 2017 - 4:00 PM

Valid until

until further notice

Prepared by

stephen holeczi

Winter is on, people are skiing, and many ice climbs are now in.  Isolated wind slabs are the only problem currently, but remember a small slide can have big consequences, especially in climbing terrain.  SH

Regular season
Friday - November 10, 2017
Alpine

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.

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
Saturday - November 11, 2017
Alpine

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.

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
Sunday - November 12, 2017
Alpine

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.

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

Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs

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

This is a typical early winter avalanche problem that exists in isolated pockets where the snow has drifted into small wind slabs and the slope is steep enough to slide. Mainly a concern for ice climbers in steep gullies or walking above cliffs.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been observed or reported over the last couple days.

Snowpack Summary

An average of 30-50 cm of snow at treeline with up to 100 cm in alpine locations. A crust formed prior to Halloween is down 10-15 cm helping provide support for skiers. This crust disappears on N aspects around 2500m. Previous alpine winds have created pockets of wind slab. On glaciers be wary of the ice-snow interface and check it for instability.

Weather Forecast

Starting tonight, some light snow (5-10cmcm) is possible with light to mod. SW winds. Temperatures will stay below freezing but its warmer than it has been this past week!

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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