For the best riding seek out sheltered slopes with the deepest snow that hasn't been wind-affected.
Watch for pockets of cohesive wind slabs on the lee side of ridges or ribs. However, with the sugary-faceted-weak snowpack avalanches could step down to the middle of the snowpack.
No new avalanche reports. Keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering.
In deeper zones at 1900 m the snowpack is around 100-130 cm, which is low for middle of December, and it has a weak structure.
Surface: Boot top powder in deep areas. Same old crusts, facets, and rocks on wind scoured slopes.Upper-pack: Below the fresh snow is well developed surface hoar in sheltered areas. The uppper part of the snow pack is generally low density and faceting (aka weak).Mid-pack: maybe a crust or two, with a layer of soft facets above. This is likely the primary weak layer.Lower-pack: facets and depth hoar (aka not strong).
Friday NightIncoming system bringing ~5 cm snow overnight with light to moderate southerly wind. Temperatures around -5 to -10 C at treeline and higher.
SaturdayA few more cm of snow. Steady temps around -5 C up in the mountains. Light to moderate southerly winds.
SundayDry. Light wind from the northwest. Steady temps around -5 C and colder at treeline and higher. Mostly cloudy.
MondayClearing. Dry. Temps cooler at around -10 C at treeline. Light northerly wind.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
