Great conditions this week for backcountry touring and climbing, with variable reports of snow quality on the surface, but mostly good. Couloirs are in reasonably good shape, but watch for small pockets of windslab, especially on gully walls or at transition areas near the top, because here, even a small windslab has consequences.
Wind slabs may exist in the alpine on steep lee aspects resulting from south and west winds moving up to 15 cm of recent snow. Watch for drifted snow, and use any opportunities to test on small terrain features, and check the stability of the surface snow.
No new avalanches observed or reported.
The snow surface is a mix of crusts and soft snow, and changes often within short distances, but soft powder is on the surface on the north aspects at treeline and sheltered alpine areas. Below this, lies a variety of crusts on solar aspects; dry snow on north aspects, and surface hoar/crust (Jan 24) down 15-30 cm around the treeline. Below this interface, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
A ridge of high pressure will keep our region dry for the next few days, temperatures will remain -5 to -10, and winds will be light/moderate from the West. There is hope for a few (<5 cm) on Friday and Saturday - fingers crossed!
