Reactive wind slabs can be found on lee and cross-loaded features at Treeline and above.
With limited early season options to ride, overcrowding is an issue. Avoid putting yourself below other groups, and if you are above a party, communicate with them and avoid dumping an avalanche on top of them.
Strong winds with lots of available snow for transport created wind slabs. These slabs are most reactive at ridge top, in lee features, or in areas where a slab sits over a crust. There is potential for the slabs to run far on the crust (down ~40-50). Limit your overhead exposure!
A natural avalanche cycle to size 2 was observed in Glacier NP on Sunday. Storm slab crowns, 10-25cm deep, were evident on lee or crossloaded features above 1900m on most aspects. Gusting winds transporting the new snow were the likely trigger of this event.
Several human-triggered avalanches to sz 1.5 in the Connaught drainage were reported over the weekend.
50cms of snow fell over the weekend. On solar aspects, this new snow sits on a rain crust up to 2300m and a suncrust at higher elevations. Wind redistribution at Alpine/Treeline elevations has created a soft slab on open slopes and lee features. A thick crust can be found 20-30cm off of the ground. Below Treeline, the snowpack tapers to 40cms or less, making ski outs treacherous! Expect glaciers to have poor coverage and thin bridging.
Wintry temps with light flurries for the next few days.
Mon Night: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, Alp low -12*C, light SW winds.
Tues: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high -9*C, mod SE winds
Wed: Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5cm, Alp high -7*C, mod SE winds
Thurs: Cloudy, isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, Alp high -6*C, light winds
