The rating remains elevated at the upper elevations as the possibility to trigger very large and dangerous avalanches continues. These slabs will be most sensitive to larger triggers such as snow machines but could release to the weight of a single skier if a particularly weak spot in the snowpack is crossed. Previous tracks do not affect this weak layer and are not an indication of stability. Wind slabs could also be triggered at the mid and high elevations today. Avalanches at low elevations are unlikely except for in isolated pockets. Careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route finding skills are essential today.
Very dangerous deep slabs that persist on west thru north thru east facing slopes above an elevation of 9,000 feet. These destructive slabs could be human triggered with depths to six feet.
Soft slabs formed by recent snow and southwest to northwest winds could be triggered today in steep wind loaded terrain. These slabs could have depths of six inches to two feet.
Friday looks to be dry through the morning and the early afternoon with periods of light snow developing by late afternoon or evening. Temperatures in the morning are to be in the single digits in the morning at higher elevations and below zero in the valleys. Temperatures should rise to near twenty by the time snowfall arrives.The avalanche hazard will be similar to today with Considerable hazard above 9000 feet where the chance for a single person to trigger large and devastating avalanches continues. A larger trigger is more likely to initiate failure however in some areas, a single skier or boarder could trigger one of these slides if a weak trigger point is crossed. These weak points are most likely to be found in a particularly thin spot on the slope. Above 7500 feet wind slabs formed from recent snow and strong winds lie on leeward slopes. Although these slabs are gaining strength and are becoming less likely to fail, pockets of instability to depths of two feet could be found in very steep terrain.
