A complex snowpack necessitates conservative terrain choices.
Very large human-triggered avalanches are possible, and strong sun could produce natural avalanches.
Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects. Wind slabs may overlie a weak layer of facets and could remain reactive for longer than usual.
Cornices are large, looming, and may trigger large persistent slabs on slopes below.
There are multiple persistent weak layers of facets or crust/facets combinations in the top 200 cm of the snowpack. Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering these slabs is more likely.
On Wednesday, a widely propagating size 3 natural persistent slab was observed on a southeast alpine face.
On Tuesday, multiple widely propagating natural avalanches were observed in steep terrain. A cornice was also remotely triggered by snowmobilers. Read more in this MIN report.
A very large avalanche resulted in a fatality on March 22 near Mt McDonell. More information can be found here.
Cornices are large and looming. Avoid travelling underneath them.
Strong winds have created wind-affected surfaces and wind slabs over a weak layer of crust/facets that have recently been reactive to human triggers.
There are multiple persistent weak layers of facets or crust/facets combinations in the top 200 cm of the snowpack. These layers are most likely to trigger in wind-affected areas or a shallow or thick-to-thin snowpack.
Thursday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Saturday
Sunny. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. Light to no ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
