The short days of December are here. Have an early turn around time to be back to the trailhead well before darkness!
Weather Forecast
A trace of new snow, light NW winds and alpine temperatures of -18C are in the forecast for today. More of the same for Tuesday too.
Snowpack Summary
Daily small inputs of snow along with moderate winds have formed thin reactive surface slabs along the immediate lee of ridges and cross loaded features. If triggered these slides will likely be small, size 1 slides but should not be discounted. Below the surface snow are widespread hard slabs formed when the arctic air pushed into our region.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity observed in the highway corridor in the last 24hrs.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
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.