Isolated pockets of wind slab may linger at high elevations, but the main mountain hazard is a shallow, early-season snowpack.
Tread lightly and slide slow!
Recent variable winds may have left isolated pockets of wind slab in wind-loaded areas such as cross-loaded slopes, areas of drifted snow behind ribs, gullies, and other terrain breaks.
No recent avalanches have been reported, but observations are limited at this time of year. Please consider posting a MIN if you are heading out in the backcountry!
Surface snow at treeline and above is variable, with soft snow in sheltered areas and pockets of firm, wind-affected snow in more exposed areas. A supportive melt-freeze crust from mid-November is buried 20–30 cm down and is present up to about 2200 m.
Snow depths at treeline range from roughly 20 to 60 cm.
Below treeline, the snowpack thins significantly; many areas have only a shallow, crusty base or little snow at all.
Watch out for variable snow conditions and quality—early-season hazards such as open creeks, rocks, and stumps are abundant.
Mostly clear skies. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 3 cm of snow at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Mix of sun and clouds. 4 to 5 cm of snow at treeline. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
