Recent snow and wind will have produced reactive slabs at all elevations.
Watch for signs of instability and continue to make conservative terrain choices.
This week's fresh snow will have created reactive wind slabs.
Southerly winds have transported much of this new snow at higher elevation. Expect wind slabs in the immediate lee of exposed areas.
Thursday, avalanche control work was done by a local operator. They were able to trigger a cornice avalanche that triggered a buried layer when it impacted the slope below it.
On Wednesday, local operators were able to trigger several storm slab, size 1.5, avalanches with explosives. Skiers and sledders remote triggered a couple of size 2 avalanches within the storm slab as well.
The most notable avalanche of the day can be found here on the Mountain Information Network. A sledder accidentally triggered a large avalanche while on the slop. The sled was buried but the rider was able to stay on top of the snow.
Early this week another avalanche of note occurred on Tuesday. There was a size one human-triggered avalanche with involvement. More details of their well-executed companion rescue can be found here on the Mountain Information Network.
A big thanks to our backcountry users who share their stories and have posted in the Mountain Information Network.
Alpine winds will have redistributed 40 to 70 cm storm snow this past week at higher elevations. As you descend in elevation wind effect decreases and the temperature effect increases and the new snow will be heavier and more moist
There are a number of crusts buried between 50 to 80 cm deep that were formed in January. It may have been on these layers that the avalanches that occurred this past week slid on.
A number of weak layers exist within the middle and lower snowpack. These layers have not been very reactive lately. Total snowpack depths are reaching 300 cm in some areas.
Friday Night
Cloudy, 2 to 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 15 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks, trace accumulation, winds southwest 20 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -6 C.
Sunday
Cloudy, 9 to 13 cm accumulation, winds southwest 22 to 35 km/h, treeline temperatures -2 C, and the freezing level reaching 1200 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud, 8 cm accumulation, winds southwest 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -6 C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
