Avalanche Forecast

High

• Thursday: A few small wind slab avalanches on north and east aspects were triggered natural and by riders.

• Wednesday: Northwest of Golden, a small (size 1) rider triggered wind slab avalanche was reported on an east facing, treeline slope. Just beyond the region boundary to the east, a size 2.5 remote triggered avalanche was observed. see the report here.

We expect unconsolidated snow will remain reactive to skier traffic in steep terrain. Carefully manage sluffing.

25-45 cm of soft surface snow is faceting in sheltered terrain at treeline and below. This covers a layer of surface hoar buried in late January that may be as large as 15 mm in some places. The surface hoar sits on loose, faceted snow in shaded terrain, and a crust on steep slopes facing the sun.

In the alpine, exposed terrain is generally wind-affected, and there is likely no surface hoar included in the late January layer, just facets, old wind-affected surfaces, or a sun crust.

A weak layer of facets from early December is 60 to 120 cm deep.

The base of the snowpack consists of a thick crust with facets or depth hoar in many areas.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with flurries. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -17 °C.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 10-20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
• Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.