Hazard rermains at moderate for Douglas today. With only a few inches of new snow yesterday and overnight, combined with relatively good stability reported and observed, conditions have generally settled and bonded well. However, skier-triggered avalanches remain possible, especially on steep, unsupported slopes. Likely trigger points being near terrain features. With a welcome return to good snow it easy to let your guard down as you travel into the backcountry, it is important to remain vigilant with good practices and manage the human factor/ powder frothing side of things.
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Storm slab remains the main avalanche problem for the day. With only a few inches overnight the storm slab did not grow by nuch and is showing signs of being well bonded and gaining strength. A slight density change within the storm slab has produced a few small skier triggered slabs.
With Northerly outflow winds starting on the mainland windslabs and cornices could start to build on southerly aspects, this problem will be most likely on the South end of Douglas as the Eaglecrest area is usually a little later to develop Northerly winds. If snow transport begins to happen wind slab can develop fast and be highly reactive. Look for fat looking pockets, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks to identify wind slab.
All things considered winter has returned with much needed snowfall that has come in right side up and has changed things from what looked like late spring back to a winter wonderland. Lower parts of the snowpack are still wet and saturated with weak layers mostly gone or healing. The new storm slab has bonded well to the old snow surfaces, but a slight density change within it has produced a few small skier triggered slabs. These will be most present at upper elevations on steep terrain, convex rollovers, and unsupported slopes. Terrain traps like steep gullies should be given extra caution. Be sure to to ride lines one at a time with spotters in place and a well thought out plan with exits and islands of safety picked out if a slope were to fail. Do beacon checks with travel partners and have a good plan for the day when heading into the backcountry. Starting tonight and into tomorrow we will see cold air and strong Northerly winds return to the region. As we move through the work week these strong outflow winds have the potential to transport snow and deposit it on leeward southerly aspects potentially creating reactive windslabs and cornices. Stay safe enjoying the snow and please submit observations at the CAAC webpage as you travel around Douglas throughout the week!
