Warming temps, new snow and wind are the perfect recipe for fresh slab formation.
Continue to re-evaluate conditions as you gain elevation and transition into open terrain.
Be extra cautious on South through West aspects, as there is a sun-crust down 40-70cm that has been reactive to skier/rider traffic.
Fresh snow with variable wind continues to build fresh slabs.
A few naturals were observed on Mt. Macdonald running from steep terrain on Saturday.
Thursday; there was a close call when a skier triggered a sz 1.5 avalanche on the S/SW side of Cheops and self arrested; and a skier triggered slab avalanche on a S facing moraine.
Wednesday there was a widespread natural cycle in the highway corridor, triggered by wind.
Tuesday, there was a skier triggered avalanche on the W Side of Cheops.
*All skier triggered avalanches failed on a suncrust
30cms of recent storm snow overlies variable wind slabs/wind effect in open terrain, and settling facetted snow in sheltered areas below tree-line.
A sun crust, down 50cm (most prominent at tree-line) has been the failure plane for isolated & large skier triggered avalanches recently.
Below 2100m there is decomposing crust down 75cm (from Dec 5th/6th).
The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down 110cm and is decomposing.
Expect a temperature inversion and flurries into Monday as heavy cold air is slowly pushed out.
Tonight: Trace precip. Low -3°C. Light Southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level (Fzl) 1400m
Sun: Isolated flurries. High -3°C. Fzl 1800m. Light to Moderate SW wind.
Mon: Isolated flurries. High -2°C. Fzl 1800m. Light SW wind.
Tues: 5cm. Low -6°C, High -3°C. Light S wind. Fzl 1700m
