Generally, the snowpack depth is highly variable due to the early season wind effect. The best riding will be in sheltered features with a deeper snowpack that have been previously wind loaded.
In exposed alpine terrain you will find a variety of wind-effected surfaces, including scouring, sastrugi, and hard wind slab. Human-triggering wind slabs on isolated or extreme features are unlikely but not impossible.
A few reports over the weekend of sluffing or loose dry avalanches occurring in steep terrain that has been sheltered from the wind. Otherwise, no other recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region.
Thank you for the MIN reports! They are extremely helpful to us! If you head into the backcountry please submit a MIN report!
In general, the snowpack is highly wind affected resulting in a wide variation in snowpack depths. Depths at treeline range from 50 to 125cm.
Upper Snowpack
10-20cm of recent low-density snow in areas sheltered from the wind. Isolated pockets of windslab are hard to find but still exist in wind-exposed terrain at higher elevations.
Mid-pack
Generally well settled. A mid-November crust and facet layer is down approximately 60cm from the surface and is reportedly bonding well.
Lower-pack
Weak sugary snow (basal facets).
Monday Night
Cloudy with scattered flurries. Light to moderate southwest winds and temperatures around -10 C in the lower alpine.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud with a chance of light flurries. Light to moderate southwest winds and temperatures around -15 to -10 C in the lower alpine.
WednesdayA mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Moderate to strong west winds and temperature around -5 to -10 C in the lower alpine.
ThursdayCloudy, no snow expected. Moderate to strong west winds and temperature around -5 to -10 C in the lower alpine.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
