From bulletin@avalanche.ca Fri Mar  3 19:38:32 2006

Date Issued: March 3, 2006
Valid Until: March 6

South Rockies Region	

Forecast Area: This forecast includes mountainous areas in the southeast corner of BC and 
the southwest corner of Alberta. It includes mountain areas in the Elk Valley between Fernie 
and Elkford, areas east of Canal Flats and Cranbrook, the Crowsnest Pass, and the east side 
of the Rocky Mountains south of Kananaskis Country. The region does not include Kananaskis 
Country or Kootenay and Waterton Lakes National Parks.

Forecast of avalanche danger beginning Friday, March 3, 2006:

Day:\Friday p.m.\Saturday\Sunday\Monday 
Alpine:\Considerable\Considerable\Considerable\Considerable 
Treeline:\Considerable\Considerable\Considerable\Moderate 
Below Treeline:\Moderate\Moderate\Moderate\Moderate

Travel Advisory: 

Days are getting longer now, so give solid consideration to the effects of solar heating as 
you evaluate terrain choices. Moderate to strong SE winds on Thursday have laid down a stiff 
wind slab in the alpine and at treeline. This slab often has looser snow below, so it is 
subject to human triggering, especially at treeline. Generally, things are on a slow trend 
toward improvement, but it~Rs too soon after the big loading event to start trusting the facets 
and patchy surface hoar found at the storm snow interface down about 25cm. Try to avoid south 
facing aspects as they have a fun-inhibiting breakable crust in the mornings and rising 
avalanche danger in the afternoons due to solar heating. Sticking below treeline to ski and 
sled in moderately spaced trees, avoiding south aspects, offers a good terrain choice for fun 
times while managing avalanche risk. Keep an eye out this weekend for the tail end of cornice 
fall activity from the storm last week!

Avalanches: 

Natural activity tapered off on Thursday, but human triggered events were still occasionally 
seen around the region Friday. Surface hoar was well developed Friday, and the new snow combined 
with wind predicted for Sunday and Monday may increase the tendency for human triggering of a 
soft slab.

Snowpack: 

The storm snow had settled rapidly on Friday, increasing in density and strength slightly. A 
wind slab is found in the alpine from strong SE winds leading up to the weekend. Surface hoar 
about 2mm in size found in sheltered areas near treeline and above is expected to survive and 
be buried Sunday. A sun crust is found on south facing aspects, although this is eroded to moist 
snow each afternoon. The snowpack has begun to melt at lower elevations on south aspects in some 
locations.

Weather: 

The weather will be generally cloudy and cool this weekend. Freezing levels will rise to 1200m 
on Sunday, then begin to fall, reaching 1000m on Monday and valley bottom later in the week. A 
light dusting of snow Sunday will be covered by a further 10-15cm on Monday. Winds will be 
moderate out of the SE on Saturday, slowly switching to SW by Sunday.

Issued by: Evan Manners