Fresh, reactive wind slabs may be evident in wind-loaded areas, while dangerous weak layers hide deeper in the snowpack.
Choose sheltered, low-consequence terrain.
Recent easterly winds have formed fresh, reactive wind slabs in a reverse loading pattern. Avoid wind-loaded areas, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Sporadic large rider-triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to occur. They have been most reactive on north through east slopes between 1700 and 2300 m.
Large natural and human-triggered persistent slab avalanches have occurred in the past week on the weak layer buried in early December. The most concerning area has been in the Goat Range. This problem is starting to improve but deserves patience and continued vigilance. Watch this recent State of the Snowpack video for more details.
Expect to find 20 to 50 cm of settling snow in sheltered areas and pockets of wind slabs in exposed areas at upper elevations. On sun-affected slopes, soft snow covers a melt-freeze crust.
A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and/or surface hoar is buried 60 to 110 cm. It will most likely be a problem on north through east aspects between 1700 and 2300 m.
Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with light flurries, up to 3 cm of new snow. 5 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of new snow. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
