Blues

A hard freeze overnight at upper elevations has allowed the upper snowpack to harden into a solid melt-freeze crust. Expect hard and supportable snow conditions on all aspects near treeline and above. Below treeline the refreeze may not have penetrated much below the snow surface and wet loose avalanches remain a concern on steep slopes, especially in the afternoon hours.

We can be greatful for the freeze last night. Temperatures at 5am around 5500' were in the mid-20's. The freezing temperatures have allowed the snowpack to stabilize on most aspects near and above treeline. Below treeline - which encompasses most of the terrain in the Blues - where the temps were not so cold, the refreeze may have only occurred in the upper 6" of the snowpack. As things warm up during the day this slightly refrozen upper snowpack may become unsupportable. If you find yourself bogging down on your sled or sinking in above your boot tops, then this is a good indication of an unstable snowpack and you should avoid and stay out from under steep slopes.

Another concern are the existence of several weak layers deeper down in the snowpack. These warrant your consideration. Last week, I was up near Spout Springs and found some weak layers buried down about 2 feet on north-facing aspects. While triggering an avalanche on these deeper weaknesses is unlikely, the possibility exists. If you venture into avalanche terrain the next few days, please take the time to dig down at least two feet and look for weak layers or interfaces. Avoid likely trigger points in the terrain like convex rolls, rocky outcroppings, and unsupported slopes. And, as always, ski or ride one at a time on steep slopes.