Selkirk Mountains

The snowpack is generally safe and mostly free from avalanching. Continue to assess steep exposed terrain below ridgelines, and on steep convex rolls and sidewalls of gullies for pockets of shallow drifted slabs that might catch you off guard. Use good travel habits when recreating in avalanche terrain and have a solid contingency plan if conditions abruptly change while attempting a bigger objective in complex or extreme terrain.

If it sounds like a broken record, you’ve correctly named that tune. Little change in the weather through mid-week contributes to little change in avalanche conditions. The almost three-week period of cold, dry conditions is leaving its mark on the upper snowpack. Extensive near-surface weakening in the form of faceted grains and surface hoar has been observed across all forecast zones and sets the stage for an uptick in danger when the next round of snowfall arrives. For now, stable conditions prevail.

Periods of Low (1of5) avalanche danger and good visibility offer a great opportunity to recreate in steeper terrain and seek out more committing objectives. These offerings don’t come free of charge and using good travel habits and group decision making will go a long way to help reduce your exposure to the small, isolated hazards that may be lurking. Observers continue to find pseudo reactive pockets of drifted slabs, but they have been generally shallow and not breaking wide. Just big enough to knock you over if not paying attention. This size and flavor of avalanche hazard is more critical in very steep or extreme terrain where a slide for life or getting pushed over a cliff could carry serious consequences.

Be mindful that surface conditions will vary and expect subtle changes depending on the direction the slope faces. You may encounter sun crusted areas, wind-stiffened or textured areas, and recycled powder – aka near-surface facets – all on the same ascent or descent. In steep, sheltered terrain on slopes that face west through north to northeast, watch for facet sluffing and be ready to move to the side if sluffs start traveling fast downhill or entrain more snow volume. Take advantage of more terrain options now as the exploratory window will close once fresh slabs stack on top of the various flavors of weak and brittle surfaces.

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**We continue to receive intermittent reports of opening glide cracks and some failing naturally producing large to very large glide avalanches. Avoid traveling on or below slopes where a glide crack has opened. These types of avalanches are difficult to forecast when they will release.**