The best skiing potential will be in sheltered glades around treeline. This may be a good time to consider some of the larger ice climbs in the area.
Weather Forecast
A stable air mass is moving into the area which will bring light Northwest winds gusting to moderate at ridge tops in the afternoon. No significant precipitation is in the forecast for the next few days. Temperatures should rise during the day, but freezing levels will remain at valley bottom.
Snowpack Summary
Yesterday's moderate to strong SW winds built slab conditions on open tree line slopes and along ridge lines in the alpine. Winds have tapered off as a stable airmass moves in. The mid-pack is facetting in shallower areas, but remains strong around treeline. Northwest winds may redistribute some snow onto Southeast aspects near ridge tops.
Avalanche Summary
Small, loose snow avalanches continue to run from rock bands and steep alpine terrain. These slides have little mass and have not as yet triggered the wind slabs beneath them.� No natural slab avalanches were observed today.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.