With incoming fresh snow the riding quality will improve along with increasing avalanche hazard. Because of the thin, soft, early season snowpack the best riding will also be where avalanches are most likely. My suggestion is to keep slope angles moderate and sheltered from the wind.
Thin early season snow depths mean you'll be searching for deeper areas to ride; that'll take you to where storm slabs are most likely. Selecting moderate (less steep) slopes will help manage both early season hazards (like knee and A-arm wrecking rocks) and avalanche hazards. Less windy areas will be the sweet spot for both best riding quality and avoiding avalanche issues.
Limited reporting from the field; however, this one is worth looking at. The location and size strike me as 'representative'. My concern is that with the facetted snowpack things could scrub to ground (deeper crown = bigger avalanche). Big shout out to J.Majorossy!
Over the work week the east side of the Purcells received 10 to 20 cm of snow. The weekend storm should bring another 15 to 30 cm by Sunday afternoon.
Below the recent snow are old cold layers including large surface hoar (10-30 mm), facets (sugary, weak) and even a sun crust on steep solar aspects.
In the alpine, snowpack depths range from 70-110 cm. At treeline, 40-80 cm. Below treeline averages 10-40 cm.
A variable and thin early-season snowpack with many early season hazards, like rocks and stumps.
Saturday Night
Overnight storm should deliver 5 - 10 cm with moderate to strong southwest winds. Temperatures around -10 C.
Sunday
Storm winding down during the day as it slides south. Another 5 to 10 cm of snow, continued moderate to strong westerly wind, steady around -5 to -10 C
MondayClearing with dry cold air arrives as the wind veers to the northeast . Temps around-15 C.
TuesdayContinued dry and cold
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
