The regional snowpack remains quite variable. It's important to be in tune with the conditions in your local riding areas.
Confidence
Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable
Weather Forecast
The weather pattern is finally changing. A weak frontal system will break down the persistent valley cloud and temperature inversions bringing upper elevation clouds, snow accumulations 3-7 cm, and light SW winds. Freezing levels near 1200m. By Wednesday the Purcells may see an additional 5-10 cm of new snow with strong SW winds and alpine temperatures near -10. Unsettled conditions continue through Thursday.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, a natural icefall off a hanging glacier occurred, size 2 but did not pull a slab from the slope below. A cycle of naturally-triggered size 1 loose dry avalanches from steeper terrain features were also reported.
Snowpack Summary
New surface hoar growth exists primarily on shady aspects at treeline and above. The upper snowpack is generally loose and unconsolidated with 15-30 cm of snow sitting above a variety of old surfaces including surface hoar, facets and crusts. In isolated locations wind or storm slabs may exist. In parts of the Purcells, two prominent layers of buried surface hoar continue to be reactive in snowpack tests. These are buried down 25-60 cm and may be reactive where a cohesive slab sits above. Shallow snowpack areas and moraine features may also have weak faceted snow near the ground that will require time and some warming to strengthen.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.