Natural avalanches are tapering off, but human triggering is still a real possibility. Conservative decision making and careful terrain selection is required.
Slabs 25-60cm thick sit over a Dec. 17 weak layer of facets that was on the surface during the prolonged deep freeze. Test results show "sudden" failures which indicate that human triggering is likely. Caution is advised on all open slopes.
The bottom of the snowpack is very weak and faceted. Natural avalanche activity has lessened, but forecasters are still concerned about skier triggered avalanches stepping down to this layer.
Both ski areas reported small avalanches with explosives. A road patrol to Bow Summit in good visibility showed no new avalanches in past 24 hours.
10-20 cm of soft surface snow in many areas gives good ski quality providing there is a supportive mid-pack. The mid-pack is generally weak with two persistent layers that show moderate results with snowpack tests. All slopes steep enough to slide should be considered suspect right now.
An upper ridge over the area will persist through Friday. Wednesday will see mainly sunny skies with some afternoon cloudy periods. Alpine winds will be SW at 30-40 km/hr. Alpine temperatures will be in the -5 to -10 range. Some light snow forecast for Friday.
