The snowpack is shallow and weak, with lots of hazard at or just below the surface. Be patient and save the knees and ski-bases. Ice climbers should be aware of overhead hazard.
Wind slabs are expected in terrain along ridgelines and in gullied areas. Feel for that drummy or hollow snowpack under your feet. This is an indication of a wind slab.
Loose dry avalanches within the upper snowpack in steep terrain.
Nothing new reported or observed on Sunday, but the previous few days did see some activity.
A couple of size 2 wind slab avalanches were observed along the spray on Saturday.
One of which was off the repeater slope (lookers right when in the Tryst lakes exit gully) this came across the whole feature and ran into the exit gully that is occasionally used by skiers from Tryst Lake. This started from steep cross loaded terrain above.
Loose dry avalanches have been somewhat common off the steepest alpine faces.
Wind slabs are found on the surface in wind-prone alpine terrain, and below the surface in lee and cross-loaded terrain features. A few slab avalanches (both human and naturally triggered) in steeper terrain have been noted in recent days. The basal layers of the snowpack are typical of the eastern Rockies for this time of year, and consist almost entirely of facets. Unfortunately this condition is not going anywhere fast, and may be with us for the season.
Monday will bring mainly cloudy skies with light flurries. Between 2 and 5cm are expected. Winds will be light from the west and temperatures will range from -12 to -15. Tuesday will bring more flurries, but accumulations will be minimal.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
