Keep the persistent slab problem on your mind at treeline and below.
Shooting cracks and "whumphing" are red flags that human triggering remains possible.
Moderate southerly winds have loaded lee features near ridgetop. Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain. Wind slabs will be most reactive in areas where they sit over a crust.
A layer of surface hoar (up to 40mm at tree line & below) is buried 30-80cm deep and sits on a crust. Use caution in terrain that has not seen rider traffic and wind sheltered areas at lower elevations. This is where triggering is most likely.
20-30 cm of low density storm snow is reactive to human triggering in steep terrain. Solar warming will also be a trigger when the sun pokes out. A firm crust below this light snow makes an excellent surface for these avalanches to run on.
A few natural avalanches, size 1 to 1.5, have been observed along the highway corridor recently.
Field teams on Tuesday were triggering small, loose dry avalanches in low density storm snow in steep terrain. These avalanches were failing on the crust.
Also on Tuesday, see the public report of human triggered avalanches, size 1.5.
20-30cm of low density storm snow has formed slabs on lee features at ridge top.
There are a series of crusts in the upper snowpack from solar warming and above freezing temperatures in the past 2 weeks.
30-60cm beneath the surface is the Jan 26th drought layer which consists of surface hoar, facets, and a crust. This layer is widespread with largest surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
A high-pressure system over the region will bring a mix of sun and cloud with a few flurries.
Tonight: Cloudy. Alp low -7°C. Wind SW 25km/h. Freezing level (FZL) 900m.
Thur: Clouds/sun/flurries. Snow: Trace. High -5°C. Wind SW 25-45 km/h. FZL 1300m
Fri: Cloudy/flurries. Snow: 5 cm. Alp High -7°C. Wind SW 20-40 km/h. FZL 1100m
Sat: Clouds/sun/flurries. Snow: Trace. Alp High -8°C.Wind W 10-30 km/h. FZL 800m
