Recent snow may not bond well to previous surfaces. Expect to find more reactive deposits around ridges and steep rolls.
Use extra caution in areas with a thin, uniform snowpack (less than 100 cm). These areas are inherently weak, with heavily faceted snow and crusts closer to the surface, making them easier to trigger.
Storm slabs may remain reactive to triggering. Expect to find the touchiest deposits under ridgetop features or steep rolls.
On Saturday, riders reported dry loose sluffing within the recent storm snow. Natural storm slab avalanches to size 2 were reported in Glacier National Park.
Last Wednesday, near Golden, a size 2.5 avalanche was reported, likely triggered by warming alpine temperatures and strong solar input. The slide released on a steep, wind-loaded, ridgetop slope with a generally shallow snowpack. See MIN report here.
Around 15 cm of new snow covers a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes.
In the mid-snowpack, a melt-freeze crust exists that was buried in mid-December. This layer is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.
The lower snowpack consists of a thick melt-freeze crust, with weak faceted snow and/or depth hoar near the ground in areas.
Snow depths vary widely across the region, averaging roughly 100 to 200 cm at treeline.
Sunday night
Mostly cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 300 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. Up to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
