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Backcountry Avalanche Advisory

As of Wednesday, Dec. 12

Alpine:  Considerable

Treeline: Considerable

Below Treeline: Low

Travel Advisory: Light snow is accumulating over weak facetted snow and a widespread rain crust in most areas. The loose surface layers and areas of soft slab are easily triggered in steeper terrain. Heavy loads have been observed to trigger deep instabilities in isolated terrain at higher elevations.

Avalanche Activity: Natural and skier-triggered Size 1 slabs were observed early this week. Isolated deep slabs have been reported since late last week. These have varied from a skier-triggered one metre deep Size 2 wind loaded slab to a Size 3 slab triggered by a snow cat and running on a buried October weak layer.

Snowpack: The Dec. 3rd rain crust is in evidence to at least 2,180 metres, but it varies in depth and strength depending on aspect and elevation. In the alpine the snow above the crust has been affected or scoured by winds. Facetting above the Dec. 3rd rain crust is widespread.

Weather: A Northwesterly flow aloft will continue to bring cool temperatures and snow flurries to our area through Thursday. A more potent weather system is expected to bring steady snowfall by late Friday.