Avoid terrain traps and other terrain features that could make being caught in a small avalanche more consequential. Wind slabs will likely be limited in size but reactive due to the surfaces they have formed on.
Wind slabs will likely be limited in size but reactive due to the surfaces they are forming on. Avoid features where even a small avalanche could be consequential.
The mid January surface hoar layer is a developing problem that could start to produce more avalanches in the future. Use extra caution in sheltered terrain at treeline where preserved surface hoar is more likely to exist.
The early January facet layer is now down as deep as 80cm and might require a large load such as a cornice fall or a smaller avalanche in the layers above in order to be triggered. This problem is likely most concerning on high north and east facing terrain.
Monday night: light flurries with moderate northwest winds. Low of -15 at 1600m.
Tuesday: light flurries throughout the day. Light to moderate southeast winds with a high of -14 at 1600m.
Wednesday: up to 5cm of new snow with moderate west winds. High of -12 at 1600m.
Thursday: 5 to 15cm of snow with moderate to strong southwest winds. High of -10 at 1600m.
A few skier triggered size 2 avalanches were reported on Sunday. These avalanches were thin wind slabs in alpine terrain on east aspects. See the MIN linked here to read more and view photos. Thanks to the skier that provided this information.
Up to 15cm has fallen over a variety of surfaces including facets, surface hoar and old wind slab. The new snow will likely not bond well to these surfaces. In the southern part of the region it is possible to find a rain crust up to 1500m.
Below this we have two persistent weak layers, the first is a surface hoar layer from mid January buried down 20 to 30cm. The second is a layer of facets from early January which is now down 50 to 80cm, it has been most reactive where wind slab has formed above it and will now likely require a large load to trigger.
