Uncertainty remains on how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
Conditions will vary with elevation, from wet snow to surface crust.
Make observations as you travel.
Lingering persistent slabs remain at treeline and above, especially in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released. Use caution at elevations without a supportive surface crust, where triggering may still be possible.
Triggering remains possible in areas where the surface snow is still wet. Large avalanches are possible at lower elevations, where the snowpack is wet to the ground.
The upper snowpack is soaked and overlies a supportive crust. Triggering remains possible, particularly in areas without a supportive surface crust.
On Thursday, evidence of numerous and very large avalanches (up to size 3) was reported in the East Purcells on all aspects and elevations, indicating a widespread natural cycle. These included wet loose, wet slabs and persistent slabs. Many features have run full path (up to size 4) and reached the valley bottom.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing conditions via the MIN.
High freezing levels and rain are continuing to soak the upper snowpack up to 2400 m of elevation.
As freezing levels drop, a widespread crust will start to form on all aspects and higher elevations.
Below this, 30 to 50 cm of wet snow sits above a crust (1 to 10 cm thick).
The widespread avalanche cycle has likely flushed most of the persistent slabs in the top 120 cm of the snowpack, but some may still linger in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released.
In shallow snowpack areas, depth hoar (large facets) can be found near the bottom of the snowpack.
The lower snowpack is soaked at lower elevations.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. Up to 2cm of snow in high alpine. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
