Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Low hazard doesn't mean no hazard, pockets of unstable snow may remain in steep terrain.
Cornice falls continue to be reported sporadically by our neighbors, minimize your exposure to these giant triggers.
Weather Forecast
Cloud will move in Saturday afternoon ahead of the frontal system forecast to hit our area Sunday.
Saturday: Sun to start, clouds rolling in midday. Alpine High -6*C. Moderate SW ridgetop wind
Sunday: Snow (up to 25cm). Alpine Low -8*C, High -6*C. Mod-strong SW wind
Monday: Isolated flurries. Low -19*C, High -12*C. Gusty strong SW wind
Snowpack Summary
Classic mid season drought surfaces: widespread wind-affect in exposed (SE-W-NW) terrain at treeline and above, surface hoar 5-15mm on near surface facets in sheltered terrain, and a thin breakable crust on steep solar aspects. The Jan 20 (2-4mm) surface hoar is down 35cm. The Dec 1 crust/facet combo is down ~1.5 - 2.5m.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, a small slab avalanche was observed near the base of the Grizzly Couloir (trigger and timing uncertain).
Several solar triggered small loose snow avalanches were observed in the highway corridor from Thursday/Friday.
On Wednesday, two natural windslab avalanches occurred in the highway corridor, up to size 2, from north and south aspects.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A wind stiffened upper snowpack may overlie a persistent weak layer of surface hoar in isolated location.
- Identify safe zones prior to entering a slope.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5