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 Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National ParksIssued:Monday, March 10, 2008 15:44Valid Until:Tuesday, March 11, 2008 16:00Bulletin Area:This forecast covers the east and west sides of the Continental Divide from the Wapta Icefields area in the north to the Sunshine area in the south. It also includes the Main Range area from Lake Louise to Bow Summit.
Synopsis:We are still watching the Feb 27th surface hoar as the main layer of concern. We have had moderate winds over the last 24 hours, but the fetch areas have been stripped of most of the snow available for transport, so loading of lee features has been reduced. We are still waiting for this layer to 'wake up' with increased load. The depth of the surface hoar layer is quite sporadic. It has been seen anywhere from 5 to 70 cm deep, depending on the local geography and weather patterns. So, a quick check might be the prudent thing to do, as the layer is easily visible and stands out to the naked eye. In the end, triggering this layer depends solely on how much snow is sitting on top of it, which varies greatly.Other shears that have been noted recently are 20 and 30 cm down on facets with a very stiff slab sitting on top of it. Test results were in the hard range, and sudden planar in character, which indicates potential for wide propagation. Avalanche Activity:No avalanche activity today, but of note, a large cornice failure was noted on the east side of crowfoot peak that picked up a fair amount of snow, and created a fair sized deposit on the fan above Bow Lake.Outlook:We remain in a holding pattern with the current weather system. That will change tonight as we expect up to 10cm in the alpine, with moderate winds. This means there is potential for loading of lee areas and wind slabs in the alpine.Travel Conditions:10 cm ski penetration at treeline today. Travel is becoming increasingly spring like with the warm temps, and longer days. Sun exposed slopes will have a significant amount of sun crust. (Ski crampons may come in handy!) Pockets of good skiable snow will be found at treeline in sheltered north aspects. AB
FOR MORE DETAILS:Warden Office: (403) 762-1470 Emergency: 403 762 4506 24 Hours Recorded Message: 1-800-667-1105 Related Link: http://www.avalanche.ca/ Seasonal Archives |
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