Tune in to the changing conditions of elevation, aspect, and time of day.
Be cautious in steep, rocky and wind-affected terrain where triggering a slab is most likely. Avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazards during periods of strong sun.
Easterly winds may have redistributed the surface snow into fresh pockets of wind slab in exposed alpine and treeline features. Previously wind was out of the south and older, stubborn wind slabs may still be found on a variety of aspects.
Warm temperatures and strong sun may create wet loose avalanche in steep south-facing terrain.
Keep in mind, that wet loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Weak, sugary faceted grains exist near the base of the snowpack. Riders are most likely to trigger this layer on steep, rocky slopes where the snowpack is thin and shallow. The likelihood of avalanche activity on this layer will increase during periods of rapid change to the snowpack, such as heavy snowfall, rain, or rapid warming. Cornices are also very large at this time of year and a cornice failure could trigger this layer.
On Friday, a few large (size 2) glide slab avalanche releases occurred and noted cracking and buckling was observed on know areas with basal rock slab features. A few ridgetop cornice failures occurred that tested slopes below with no slab release.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Variable winds have built wind slabs on exposed terrain features near ridgetop. Below 1800 m moist snow or a refrozen melt freeze crust covers the surface. The crust extends up to 2000 m on solar aspects. During periods of daytime warming surfaces on all aspects below 1300 m are becoming unconsolidated and moist. Above this elevation only direct solar aspects are affected by the sun.
The middle of the snowpack is strong and contains numerous hard crusts.
The lower snowpack is composed of weak basal facets. This layer has produced limited recent avalanche activity, however it can quickly become active again with any significant change to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged and extensive warming.
Sunday night
Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -10 °C. Ridge wind east 10 to 25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -5 °C. Ridge wind light from the east. Freezing level rises to 1000 metres.
Tuesday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 2 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 30 km/h from the northeast. Freezing level rises to 2100 metres.
Wednesday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 2 °C. Ridge wind north 10-25 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1500 metres.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
