Yesterday afternoon, a skier remotely triggered a hard slab on a southeast aspect of Taylor Mountain at an elevation of 8,600 feet. The crown depth for this slide ranged from 6 to 36 inches. Similar slides are possible this morning at the mid and upper elevations. As the warms, the likelihood of triggering these slides will increase, particularly on sunlit aspects. At the lower elevations, skiers and riders might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.
Skiers and riders could trigger dense surface slabs from one to four feet deep in steep, avalanche-prone terrain. Due to the density of these slides, the consequences of being caught are higher than typically expected with slides of these depths. While the distribution of these slides is becoming more isolated, all aspects remain suspect.
On Thursday, skies will continue to be mostly clear above low level clouds in the valleys. Overnight lows will be in the low 20s before rising to near 30 during the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will veer to the northwest at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above 7,500 feet. There, backcountry travelers could trigger dense surface slabs one to three feet deep in steep, avalanche-prone terrain. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, are more likely to release these slabs. As the day warms, the likelihood of triggering these slabs will increase, particularly on sunlit aspects. Below 7,500 feet, skiers and riders might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.
