The snowpack remains primed for large human triggered avalanches. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential.
Have plans to ski conservative slopes with limited overhead exposure.
Expect a reactive windslab in the immediate lees of alpine ridges or cross loaded areas. Katabatic downflow winds have been strong aswell building windslab.
This crust-facet combo (Feb 3rd) was created by an extended cold, clear period without snow earlier this month. 80-140cm now sits on the persistent weak layer which remains primed for human triggering (see FB video). If triggered resulting avalanches could be very large in size.
On Monday, a field crew remote-triggered a sz 1 on the Feb 3 crust while approaching a snow profile site. Under the Rampart a sz 3 was observed from the last few days showing very wide propagation.
A skier-triggered a sz 2 slab on Avalanche Crest Sunday.
On Thursday a large natural size 3 failed on Catamount peak, triggered by intense sun.
We continue to see daily reports in the region of human triggered avalanches on the Feb 3rd layer - some failing in small forest openings.
80-140cm of settled snow sits atop a sugary facet layer. These facets are not bonding well to the widespread, very firm crust(Feb 3). This crust is a significant persistent weak layer and will be the main layer of concern for the foreseeable future.
Intense spring sun has created a crust on South & West aspects.
Variable winds have created soft wind slabs at ridgetop on most aspects. Expect significant wind affect below glaciers due to strong downflow winds
One more day with mixed sun and cloud before a storm arrives on Saturday. So far modest snowfall amounts are forecasted on Saturday/Sunday.
Fri: Mix of sun & cloud with isolated flurries, trace of new snow, high -5°C, moderate S winds, FZL 1400m.
Sat: Flurries amounting to 6cm, high -3°C, ridge wind SW 20km/hr gusting to 55, FZL at 1800m.
Sun: Flurries to 8cm, high -5°C, light S winds, FZL 1400m.
