Although natural avalanche activity is tapering off new snow remains reactive to human triggering due to a buried weak layer.
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30 to 60 cm of storm snow and southwest winds have formed slabs in lee terrain features. New snow is bonding poorly to surfaces below. Back off if you signs of instability: whumphing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches.
On Tuesday, avalanche control with explosives produced a few dry loose avalanches, size 1.5, that ran on the weak layer below the storm snow.
On Sunday, a skier was involved in an avalanche on a northeast aspect at treeline in the Mount Cain area (MIN report).
We expect new snow will remain reactive to skier traffic on Thursday, anywhere winds have formed slabs. Carefully manage sluffing in steep terrain.
Around 30 to 60 cm of storm snow blankets the areas. Recent snow sits on a hard melt-freeze crust in most areas and a weak layer of facets and/or surface hoar on high north aspects. In wind-exposed terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong southwest wind.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and dense with no other layers of concern.
Wednesday Night
Mainly clear. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Thursday
Mainly sunny. 5 to 15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Saturday
Partly cloudy with light flurries, 1 to 4 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
