More snow than expected
Quick reportsamirsomji · Jan 31, 2026 · Elkford East
Quick report
- Stayed Away
- alpineSlopes
- Riding Quality
- ok
- Snow Conditions
- crusty, powder, windAffected
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSound
Went out north of sparwood today aiming to ski some steeper lines but backed off due to reactive wind slab hazard in TL and ALP. 8cm HN redistributed by strong W wind has formed wind slab up to 40cm deep in TL and ALP. No natural avalanches observed. Several whumps and shooting cracks from areas of deposition. Warming has created a 3cm breakable temperature crust in areas that were previously soft. SH still stands in scoured areas and where it has been buried by new snow it is mixed in with a layer of coal dust. Whumphing occurred typically 3-4 steps onto a loaded pocket and shooting cracks propagated across the entire loaded area. Start zones in alpine lee features look to be capable of producing size 2 avalanches.


