Fresh wind slabs are developing over hard surfaces, human triggering is possible.
Continually assess as you travel. Identify wind-affected slopes, and back off if they feel dense or stiff.
New wind slabs are likely to be forming over hard previous surfaces of wind pressed snow or crust. Cooler temperatures will support a more stable snowpack below treeline, but dry snow above treeline remains a concern.
Persistent weak layers in the upper snowpack remain a concern for human triggering. Where there is no supportive surface crust triggering these layers remains likely.
Sunday: Several human triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches that released on the most recent crust.
Natural and human-triggered large to very large persistent slab avalanches were reported north of Kispiox
Saturday: north of Kispiox a natural cornice release was reported that triggered a size 2.5 wind slab avalanche. In the same area skier triggered wind slab activity was reported.
Roughly 15 to 20 cm of new snow is being redistributed by moderate southwest wind. This cold new snow overlies previously wind-affected surfaces treeline and above, and at lower elevations a crust.
Two weak layers remain a concern:
A crust/facet layer buried early February down 90 to 120 cm.
A surface hoar layer buried mid February down 60 to 90 cm.
Recent avalanche activity has involved these layers with natural and human-triggered avalanches reported.
Below these layers, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 4 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
