Increasing winds will likely redistribute the new low-density snow, forming fresh wind slabs in the alpine, which will keep the hazard elevated for a few days.
High-quality skiing is still found throughout the Park, despite the below-average snowpack depth.
Gradual snow fall amounts of low density snow and increasing winds have likely formed fresh wind slabs in the alpine. Watch for these along ridge lines, lee areas and cross loaded features.
This layer is buried ~40cm and will be most reactive at ridgeline or in open lee features where new wind slab has formed. If triggered, this slab has the potential to step down to the deep persistent layer.
The Nov 17 layer, which consists of a faceted crust and decomposing surface hoar, highlights a weak basal snowpack. Be cautious in steep, rocky areas with thin snow coverage, where the majority of the snowpack is weak and faceted.
MacDonald Gully 6 ran size 3.0 early on Sunday morning, likely initiating as a wind slab.
Frequent Flyer ran size 2.0 over the Connaught Valley skin track into the creek around noon on Saturday. The debris pile was ~1m deep and 10m wide.
A steady stream of size 1-1.5 skier-triggered avalanches have been reported over the last five days, likely failing on the Jan 3 surface hoar which is buried ~40cm.
Fresh pockets of wind slab in the alpine exist in some locations. Early Jan surface hoar layers are present in the upper 40cm.
The mid-pack facets are slowly rounding and gaining strength, while the basal facets and Nov 17 facet/SH/crust weakness are still reactive when isolated in snowpack tests.
A cold front moves through the region on Monday bringing 25-50km/hr Westerly winds, ~5cm of snow, and an alpine high of -10.
Small amounts of snow and continued wind on Tuesday. Temperatures gradually rise on Wednesday. No significant snowfall until the end of next week.
