Athabasca Icefield / Columbia Icefield — Fair (42.1/100)

The Glance

Friday, April 17, 2026

Snow 24h

1

cm

Forecast Temp

—

Wind

16

km/h NW

Freezing Level

—

Day 8 at ModerateYesterday: 7cm

Avalanche

Danger by Elevation

2ALP

—TLN

—BTL

Avalanche Canada · Parks Canada

7-Day Danger Trend

Moderate. Wind slab all aspects ALP (Possible, Size 1-2). Persistent slab all aspects ALP (Possible Unlikely, Size 1.5-3). Wet Loose S/SE/W/SW BTL+TL+ALP (Possible - Likely, Size 1-1.5). (ALP: Moderate / TL+BTL: No Rating)

Travel Advice

Avoid sun-exposed slopes, especially if the snow surface is moist or wet.
Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
Start your day early and be out of avalanche terrain during the heat of the day.

Confidence

We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Snowpack

Fifteen centimeters of recent storm snow are sitting on preserved dry snow in the high North and a variety of melt forms on solar slopes and at lower elevations. Below 2300m, multiple melt-freeze crusts are layered in the snowpack.The January 24th layer is buried 80–120 cm deep and remains a lingering concern in the alpine. The lower snowpack is generally well consolidated in deeper areas, while shallow areas remain weaker and more faceted.

Recent Avalanche Activity

A size 2 slab avalanche was observed below the Athabasca Silverhorn on Wednesday morning, and another size 2 persistent slab avalanche on the endless chain was observed on Thursday morning. The age is uncertain for both of these avalanches but likely occurred approximately 48 hours prior to observation.