Central Sierra Nevada
Avalanche danger
Highlights
Light winds, slowly warming weather, and a strengthening snowpack will keep avalanches unlikely. Still, keep an eye out for unstable snow on isolated steep terrain features. Be willing to change plans if you see different conditions than expected.
Avalanche Discussion
Various snow conditions exist in the backcountry, with firm wind-pressed snow, wind-carved snow, wind-scoured snow, and some slabs of wind-deposited snow near ridges, in gullies, and on open slopes near and above treeline. Large wind slab avalanches remain unlikely since most older wind slabs have bonded to the snowpack below them.
In more sheltered places near and below treeline, shady N and NE aspects still hold areas of soft unconsolidated snow. Slopes with sun exposure have melt-freeze crusts, including some northerly aspects. Gradual warming during the days and cold nights continue incorporating the recent snow into the melt-freeze conditions on the sunny E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. As long as this process keeps happening a little at a time, areas of deep wet snow should remain minimal. Expect crusts on these slopes in the mornings and softer wet surfaces in the afternoons.
Keep using plans and practices that reinforce good backcountry travel habits. Identifying what is and is not avalanche terrain and regrouping in safe zones out of avalanche paths represents one good habit. Observing and discussing the current conditions during the day is another worthwhile habit that can help keep the group from wandering into terrain or conditions beyond their abilities.
Recent Observations:
- No avalanches got reported yesterday. The last reported avalanche occurred on Thursday, and it was a small D1 (relatively harmless to people) wind slab.
- Older, potentially weak layers of buried surface hoar, near-surface facets, or graupel still exist in some areas about one to two feet below the snow surface. Observations indicate improved bonding and decreasing reactivity on these layers. It has also been difficult to find these layers in avalanche terrain.