Good conditions considering the lack of recent snow. Cold temps are promoting snow surface faceting, which is helping to maintain ski quality.Pockets of wind slab and loose dry avalanches are the main concern, especially in steep sun exposed terrain.
Weather Forecast
Sun with periods of cloud for the day. Remaining cool with an alpine high of -12 and light variable ridge top winds. Friday will bring cloud, light snow fall amounts and SW winds up to 35kph. The weekend looks cold and mostly cloudy.
Snowpack Summary
15cm of settled snow covers old wind slabs in the alpine and exposed areas at tree line. In sheltered areas at tree line and below the recent snow is covering surface hoar and facets. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong.
Avalanche Summary
MacDonald Gully # 5 and Double Bench produced naturals up to size 2, Cougar Corners #1-4 and 6 ran up to size 2. Suspect strong solar radiation in steep rocky terrain was the natural trigger. Reports of several size 1 skier triggered avalanches in steep terrain within the top 15-20cm of poorly bonded facetted snow.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.