[MCR] Parkway avalanches

Subject: [MCR] Parkway avalanches
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:55:49 -0700
A drive up the Parkway to climb on the Weeping Wall today revealed a few recent avalanches, probably in the past 24-72 hrs, size 2 -3, between Lake Louise and Saskatchewan Crossing.

No surprise as to what terrain they were on: alpine east aspect slopes below cliff bands. Most seem to have been triggered by cornice fall but the most impressive slide did not have cornices above it. This was a size 3 on a SE aspect in the Waterfowl Lakes area. It was on a large slope, had propagated a couple of hundred meters across the slope and ran hundreds of meters to the valley bottom. Possibly triggered by sluffing from above off the steep cliffs dotted with snow patches and crisscrossed by gullies.

A beautiful day on the Weeping Wall, quite warm though causing screws to begin to melt out. All routes in good nick and only a couple of parties scattered on the cliff.

Mark Klassen
Mountain Guide