Rugged travel at lower elevations may be the biggest hazard, where a breakable crust caps the snowpack.
Watch for windslabs as you crest out of the crust laden forest and into the alpine.
Expect fresh/reactive slabs from recent strong winds as you gain elevation and transition into areas without a surface crust.
Cornices have grown dramatically recently. Minimize your exposure to overhead cornices, especially during the warmest part of the day.
No new avalanches were observed on Thursday.
There were reports of a few fresh avalanches up to size 2.5 locally and from neighboring operations on Wednesday - some triggered by cornice fall.
Artillery control in Rogers Pass on Monday produced numerous avalanches from sz 2.5 to 3.5. There was also a natural avalanche cycle during this stormy period, with avalanches running to valley bottom.
Around 40cm of heavy snow fell early in the week - this was accompanied by above-freezing temperatures which reached into the alpine. Cooler temps have now formed a problematic breakable crust on all but high elevation slopes.
A persistent weak layer was buried on January 1st and is now down 90–130 cm deep. In sheltered areas at treeline and below this interface may be surface hoar. At treeline and into the alpine it is a suncrust.
Expect stable weather through the weekend, as a ridge of high pressure establishes itself over our area.
Tonight: Clear periods. Alpine low -9°C. Light Northerly ridgetop winds.
Fri: Mostly sunny. Alpine high -3°C. Freezing level (FZL) 1300m. Light North winds.
Sat: Mostly sunny. Low -3 °C, High -1 °C. FZL 1500m. Alpine temp inversion. Light West wind.
Sun: Mostly sunny. Low -6 °C, High -2 °C. Light N wind.
