Good winter skiing can be found on true northerly aspects in the Alpine and upper Tree-line. Elsewhere expect to find challenging travel, with a variety of crusts capping a thinning snowpack.
The new snow will need time to bond to the old surfaces, especially where it sits over a firm crust. Use extra caution near ridge crests and lee features where deeper wind deposits will be more reactive. Expect natural avalanches on solar aspects when the Spring sun shines!
Thursday, a field team observed two remotely triggered size 1 storm slabs above the Bonney Moraines on E aspects, failing on the Apr 9th crust.
There were several large (up to size 3) avalanches observed in the highway corridor in recent days - storm slabs suspected to be failing on the April 9th crust.
Wednesday, a field team in the Christiana Ridge zone was able to ski-control moist storm slabs on steep solar aspects, sliding on the April 9 melt/freeze crust.
In the Alpine and high Tree-line, 20-30cm of settling snow sits over a firm crust on solar aspects and well settled dry snow on northerly aspects.
At tree line the snow depth is at a record low of around 220cm. The Feb 3rd crust/facet layer persists at upper elevations, buried down 80-140cm.
Below tree line is a well-settled spring snowpack with a strong surface crust that will break down during the heat of the day.
Unsettled weather overnight into Friday, with a slight improving trend for the weekend.
Tonight: Cloudy, flurries (up to 5cm). Alpine low -2°C, freezing level (FZL) 1600m. Light S ridgetop winds.
Fri: Mixed sun/cloud, isolated flurries. High 1°C, FZL 2100m. Gusty mod SW winds.
Sat: Mix sun/cloud. Low -2 °C, High 3 °C, FZL 2400m. Gusty strong SW winds.
Sun: Mix sun/cloud. Low -1 °C, High 4 °C, FZL 2400m. Light SW wind.
