Watch for isolated wind slabs at upper elevations. Conditions remain rugged, with firm surfaces and a shallow snowpack, so choose objectives suited to early-season hazards.
Pockets of wind slabs may be reactive to rider triggers, particularly in terrain features that promote wind loading such as cross-loaded slopes, areas of drifted snow behind ribs, gullies, and other terrain breaks.
No recent avalanches have been reported.
We suspect rider-triggered wind slabs may be possible in the alpine and at treeline on wind-loaded slopes and behind terrain features.
The surface snow in the alpine and at treeline is variable with soft snow in sheltered areas and firm wind-affected snow. Northeast slopes are wind stripped and thin-looking with pockets of stiffer, deeper deposits on leeward features. A supportive melt-freeze crust is down 15 cm up to 1300 m and disappears around 1500 m and higher.
The average snow depths at treeline elevation are anywhere from 40 to 60 cm.
Below treeline the snowpack tapers significantly, and a rain crust may be found.
Watch out for variable snow conditions and quality. Early-season hazards such as open creek, rocks and stumps.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with snow 3 to 7 cm. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Thursday
Mostly cloud with a trace of new snow. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
