The snowpack has been slowly healing yet the poor structure remains present and is susceptible to avalanche triggers. 2-3 ft below the surface, this problem snow at the bottom of the snowpack is weak and will not take a load well. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully especially since an avalanche would likely rip to the ground and expose trees, stumps, and rocks.
The same poorly structured snow we have been discussing remains a problem. Snow tests are showing evidence of bonding and rounding, however, the structure overall remains poor. Strong snow sits on top of weak snow on northerly slopes in and above the treeline. Terrain choice is key to mitigating this persistent slab problem.
There are no big changes to the weather for the next few days and our persistent slab issue remains. This type of problem is always tricky. Obvious signs of instability and avalanche activity have backed off while the recipe for an avalanche remains. When there is a problem at the bottom of the pack, it is hard to be certain what you are dealing with until an avalanche happens. The key message is to choose slopes carefully. Snow travelers often get lured into a false sense of security in these types of conditions. We also don't have much snow to choose from that doesn't have this problem. Good terrain selection is key to mitigating this problem.
