Avalanche Forecast - South Columbia   
Date Issued   Friday, 30 December 2011 5:54 PM   	   	
Valid Until    Saturday, 31 December 2011 4:00 PM

Danger Rating: Saturday

Alpine: 4 - High Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.
Treeline: 3 - Considerable Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious 
              route finding and conservative decision making essential.
Below Treeline: 3 - Considerable Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, 
                    cautious route finding and conservative decision making essential.

				Sunday 				Monday
Alpine 			3 - Considerable 	3 - Considerable
Treeline 		3 - Considerable 	3 - Considerable
Below Treeline 	3 - Considerable 	3 - Considerable

Confidence: Good - -1

Storm Slabs

Storm slabs can run far, fast & be destructive. The slabs are sitting on two weak layers in the 
upper 100cms of the snowpack. The weight of the slab may trigger the initial weakness, then step 
down to the deeper layer creating large avalanches.

Wind Slabs

Consistent strong south westerly winds have blown around new snow and loaded open, lee slopes at 
treeline and in the alpine. You may even find wind effected snow in open areas below treeline.

Persistent Slabs

Increased load in the form of wind, rain, snow or a recreating human may trigger an avalanche 
originating in this weak layer. If triggered, avalanches will likely be large, destructive and 
un-manageable.

Travel and Terrain Advice

    * The very touchy conditions require extreme caution if travelling in the mountains.
    * Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
    * Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent slopes.
    * Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong inicators of unstable snowpack.

Prepared by ghelgeson