Low avalanche hazard means it may be possible to attempt bigger or more extreme lines. Check for pockets of wind slab before committing to high-consequence slopes.
Rider triggerable wind slabs may exist in isolated areas, mostly in extreme terrain in the alpine. These slabs will be more reactive where they overlie facets on a crust.
On Friday, a small ( size 1) skier-triggered size wind slab avalanche was reported in the Hudson Bay Mountain area. This avalanche failed on a facet layer that exists above a crust, about 20 cm deep.
Check out this excellent MIN post for full details.
A variety of conditions can be found in exposed terrain at treeline and above, including crusty and wind affected surfaces. In isolated areas in the alpine, hard wind slabs overlie weak sugary facets above a hard crust and may be susceptible to human triggering. In sheltered terrain, there is up to 5 cm of snow on top of a breakable crust and new surface hoar development. The remainder of the snowpack is generally not concerning.
Check out this MIN from our field team in the Babines.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, no precipitation, 15-20 km/h variable alpine wind treeline temperature -12°C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, no precipitation 10-15 km/h northwest alpine wind, treeline temperature -4°C, freezing level 500 m.
Monday
Cloudy, trace amounts of snow, 10 km/h northwest alpine wind, treeline temperature -3°C, freezing level 500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy, no precipitation, 15 to 20 km/h northwest alpine wind, treeline temperature -6°C, freezing level 700m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
