A weak layer at the ideal depth for human triggering continues to produce large avalanches.
The safest way to manage this problem is through conservative terrain use.
A weak layer of surface hoar is down 50-90 cm. This is a prime depth for rider triggering. To manage this problem, stick to conservative terrain. Below 2100m this layer may be bridged by a buried rain crust.
Deeper wind-loaded features in the alpine and at treeline may still hold reactive slabs from the recent snow. Allow time for this snow to settle and bond before stepping out into overly committing terrain.
Riders continue to trigger large avalanches on the Dec 1st surface hoar. On Sunday a group triggered a size 2 in rocky terrain on Balu Peak and two other recent close calls occurred near by. One on Ursus Minor, one near the 7 steps in the Asulkan valley. East of the park on Thursday an experienced group triggered a size 2 avalanche on the same layer with one skier partially buried.
On Saturday, a few large storm slab avalanches came from the steep terrain of the Eastern Hwy Corridor.
Up to 20cm of recent snow buries wind effect, spotty surface hoar, and a thin sun crust in steep terrain.
A rain crust down 40-50cm is present up to 2100m.
A weak layer (Dec 1st surface hoar) buried 50-90cm deep, continues to produce 'sudden' results in snowpack tests and has been the failure plane for several human triggered avalanches recently.
The base of our unseasonably thin snowpack is unsupportive and facetted in shallow areas at upper elevations.
Steady weather for the next few days. Other than a rise in freezing levels (fzl) on Monday, light to moderate winds and light precipitation amounts set the trend.
Mon: Cloudy w/ flurries - trace of new snow, high 0°C, moderate S winds, fzl 1900m.
Tues: Cloudy, isolated flurries - trace of new snow, low -3 °C, light SW winds, fzl 1700m.
Wed: Cloudy, flurries up to 6cm, low -3 °C, moderate SW winds, fzl 1700m.
