Another fine day of skiing in K-country. Careful trip planning and terrain choice can lead to some great skiing despite the lack of new snow in the last 24hours.
Weather Forecast
Scattered clouds and moderate winds are forecast for tomorrow. No significant precip expected
Avalanche Summary
2 size 2's noted on Mt. Smuts (S face): Start elev of 2300, windslab, 60 to 100m wide, 40-100 deep, ran 600-700m
Snowpack Summary
Variable snow depth. SH noted, but limited to valley bottom in open areas. Windslabs varying from 1f to 4f in storm snow. 1106 crust down 40-80. CTM (11) SP down 15, 2250 m, W asp.
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.