Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Forecasts are for use by experienced backcountry travelers in uncontrolled sidecountry and backcountry terrain. These forecasts and conditions do not apply to open, in-bounds terrain at ski resorts, which is subject to avalanche control by local resort ski patrol.
Avalanche Rating
Moderate (2)
As the upper snowpack continues to settle, cohesive slabs may form. In areas where these slabs overlie a weak layer, they may be easily triggered by riders.
More Detail
To get the complete forecast with additional graphics and details, please view the Avalanche Canada Zone forecast provided by Avalanche Canada.
Snowpack Discussion
Around 30 to 50 cm of snow accumulated last weekend and it has remained relatively cool and cloudy since then. The snow may remain soft without slab properties in some locations, but as the snow settles it may form a slab. This is particularly problematic where the snow may rest on weak surface hoar crystals in openings below treeline, at treeline elevations, and at lower alpine elevations. Otherwise, it rests on a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes and on all aspects at low elevations.
In exposed alpine terrain, westerly wind may have formed small wind slabs in lee terrain features.
The remainder of the snowpack is strong without any deeper concerns at this time.
Avalanche Activity
Since the weekend, natural, skier and explosive-triggered avalanches continue to be reported around the region. Most are size 1 to 2, with some explosive results up to 2.5. Slabs are 20 to 60 cm deep, predominantly in north to east alpine terrain, and in many cases, failing on weak surface hoar crystals.
Although conditions are improving, it remains possible that riders could trigger similar avalanches going forward.