{"blocks":[{"key":"8p5pg","text":"The snowpack is highly variable demanding we are on the look out for where the snowpack structure remains weak: which is where a slab sits on top of buried surface hoar  or  crusts.   ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[{"offset":156,"length":12,"key":0},{"offset":174,"length":6,"key":1}],"data":{}},{"key":"c4g03","text":"The combination of heavy snow and rains with the warm storm earlier this week followed by cooler temperatures has reworked the snowpack.  This storm deposited snowfall amounts of 20-40cm that fell on widespread large surface hoar and sun crusts on steep solar.  Where this Surface Hoar layer is intact, you need to be wary of entering terrain where there are high consequences of a large Avalanche. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[{"offset":217,"length":12,"key":2}],"data":{}},{"key":"bcebp","text":"We knew that prior to this storm this widespread large surface hoar was going to be an issue for a while.  We suspect that heavy rains have made this layer less of an issue in many lower elevation areas (where it rained heavily).  However, we KNOW this layer is still preserved in many tree line and below tree line locations which were not as affected by high freezing levels and rain events.  In other words, if there is no THICK rain crust at and below tree line, be on the look out for buried surface hoar.  ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[{"offset":55,"length":12,"key":3}],"data":{}},{"key":"13t5j","text":"Importantly, buried surface hoar is more preserved in the North and Eastern regions of the North Columbias, on cooler northerly slopes, and in some places where a thin rain /temperature merely \"caps\" intact crystals.  From the far north region comes this MIN with reports of Rain up to 1500m and intact Surface Hoar.  From Glacier National Park comes this MIN report from Dec 10 of intact Surface Hoar at 1600m at a below tree line location.  We will continue to monitor this layer, because once slab properties develop (from warm temperatures or more snow) we may see it become more reactive.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[{"offset":255,"length":3,"key":4},{"offset":356,"length":3,"key":5}],"data":{}},{"key":"7j5jt","text":"Elsewhere, freezing rain with the recent storm has created a thick rain crust (or two) up to 2000m in the southern region of the forecast area.  Its distribution and extent remains unclear - but we believe it is widespread in the southwestern portions of the North Columbias with reports of up 1- 5cm thick near tree line.  In some areas there are two rain crusts: a thin crust near the base of the recent storm snow and a second thicker crust near the surface.  See this MIN report from near Crowfoot Mountain & this MIN report from the South Columbia near Hall Mountain.  ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[{"offset":472,"length":3,"key":6},{"offset":518,"length":3,"key":7}],"data":{}},{"key":"82i9m","text":"In the Alpine, recent winds will have redistributed snow.  These storm slabs sit atop suncrust on solar aspects.  As ever, be aware of how direct sun is impacting steep solar slopes.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cdiu7","text":"Down near the ground remains a thick rain crust with sugary facets above and below from early November rains (Nov 5 Crust). While we have not seen much reactivity on this layer, it continues to produce occasional Hard results in snow tests.  It is most likely to be reactive to human triggers on shallow rocky slopes in the alpine or tee line \"alpine-like\" features or be triggered by a step down avalanche.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[{"offset":387,"length":9,"key":8}],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{"0":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/glossary?q=surface+hoar#surface-hoar"}},"1":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/glossary?q=crust#crusts-are-hard-layers-of-snow-usually-created-by-liquid"}},"2":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/glossary?q=surface+hoar#surface-hoar"}},"3":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/glossary?q=surface+hoar#surface-hoar"}},"4":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/map/forecasts/kananaskis?panel=mountain-information-network-submissions/0eb9e738-bc32-4e17-84cc-761a69dbcc61"}},"5":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/27414f26-6fef-436e-b6f5-a237760ebc19"}},"6":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/e7bd81e1-6249-4809-8e26-45cf2532a068"}},"7":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/e7bd81e1-6249-4809-8e26-45cf2532a068"}},"8":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.avalanche.ca/glossary?q=step+down#step-down-avalanche"}}}}