Cold temps and limited winds have preserved some great conditions through the week. Caution on southerly aspects where slabs may exist on a solar crust. Cornices have grown large and deserve a wide safety margin.
Previous reverse loading from northerly winds earlier in the week. Wind slabs more likely on non typical lees and near ridge crest. This problem may be more of an issue on southerly slopes where slabs have built on a solar crust.
Thursday: Sunny periods. No precipitation. Alpine high -11 C. Wind NW 10-25 km/h. Freezing level (FL) valley bottom.
Friday: Sunny periods isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Alpine low -14 C; high - 8 C. Wind W 20-30 km/h. FL valley bottom.
Saturday: Isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Alpine low -9 C; high -6 C. Wind SW 15-35 km/h. FL 1400m
Sheltered areas hold up to 30cm low density snow over top a well settled mid pack. Previous NW winds added to cornice growth and slab development in the alpine. A crust down 25-40cm is decomposing but can still be found below 2300m on south aspects. A widespread weak facet layer still lurks at the bottom of the snowpack in all areas
A natural size 2 wind slab was reported on the West aspect of Mt.Wilson. Estimated date March 6-7.
A natural size 2 cornice failure was reported on Mt. Wilcox. Estimated date March 7-8.
