Snowpack depth at treeline in this area ranges from 120-140cm, with 20 cm of very low density snow having fallen over the last 36 hours. Cold temps and very light winds (treeline and below) have kept the surface snow fluffy and deep - excellent deep powder skiing between 2500 and 2000 m. Below 2000 m the snow is still good, except you can really feel an old ice crust down about 40 cm, and the ground cover is still rough in the trees.
The Dec 18 layer is the one to watch in this area, and is buried anywhere from 40-60 cm. The grains on this layer are variable depending on elevation, but up to about 2100 m it is surface hoar on a strong ice crust - perfect recipe for a sliding layer. Above 2100 m the surface hoar still exists, but no crust.
As of today there was no slab on top of this layer (we only observed to treeline), but this seems perched to change anytime. Any small change (more snow, wind or warming) and this avalanche problem will ignite.
Note that Parks Canada has started publishing a new avalanche forecast for this region specifically (Little Yoho). You can find the forecast here:
http://avalanche.pc.gc.ca
And a few facts about this region here (apologies for the awful photo):
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/little-yoho
Grant Statham
Mountain Guide
Parks Canada
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Grant Statham, Mountain GuideAlpine Specialists
701 - 2nd Street
Canmore, Alberta
Canada T1W 2K3
