Still a bit of winter hanging on in the alpine. Cornices yet to drop, dry snow yet to shed in a wet loose cycle, maybe even a small wind slab when you enter your line. Pack sunglasses, not blinders!
Large, fragile cornices exist. Be aware of overhead hazard, and stay back from overhanging cornices on ridgelines.
Cornice falls are probably the most effective--if not one of the only--triggers for a slab avalanche right now.
Slushy, isothermal snow conditions can emerge on sun-facing slopes during the heat of the day. Plan your route with this dynamic in mind to avoid getting surprised by difficult travel and rising wet loose avalanche danger.
Explosives control in the Duffey on Monday produced mainly small wet loose avalanches but also a few slabs up to size 1.5. One of these failed on the 30 - 40 cm-deep late-March crust.
On Sunday, wet loose activity was reported to size 2, along with several wind slabs. Check out the report for one of them HERE. Mild temperatures since then have likely helped to stabilize wind slabs, but local operators are still including them in hazard assessments.
If you get out, post a MIN!
Spring-like melt-freeze cycles now characterize a daily evolution of surface conditions on all but north-facing slopes above 2000 m, where about 10 cm of dry snow may still be found. It overlies old wind-affected snow above this elevation and firm crust below.
Two older crusts exist 1-1.5 m deep at treeline and above. Concern for these layers is limited to high north aspects where large cornice fall may have enough force to trigger a slab. The mid and lower snowpack are otherwise well settled.
Tuesday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level falling from 1800 m to 1500 m.
Wednesday
Sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 1 °C. Freezing level to 2100 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 3 °C. Freezing level to 2400 m.
Friday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 5 °C. Freezing level to 2700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
