Loose Wet
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
The snowpack is well on its way to transitioning to spring like conditions with sunny aspects undergoing daily melt-freeze cycles. Cooler northerly aspects at upper and middle elevations still harbor cold snow while the E-S-W are baking down, losing coverage and becoming unsupportable and punchy in shallow areas. The northern part of the forecast zone still has plenty of snow on solar aspect at the lower elevations while the southern part of the area is mostly devoid of snow on southerly aspects in the lowest elevations. In the pursuit of soft surfaces for riding, timing will be key (getting an early start!) as the afternoons will be the most hazardous in regards to wet loose concerns as snow on solar aspects becomes less stable at the peak of warm temperatures and solar input. These warming effects are most exaggerated in rocky terrain that absorb more heat and additionally within heavier tree’d zones that generally stay warmer overnight and have a less robust re-freeze. Be aware of these lower elevation zones, even if it’s not your main objective… perhaps you have to exit out through suspect areas in the later part of the day or ride beneath them. Plan accordingly to minimize exposure and increase your margins, not just for wet-loose concerns, but potential injury inducing unsupportable and punchy snow down low.