Avalanche Forecast

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Forecast for Wednesday is for a mix bag of sun, cloudy periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature should be -4c with ridge winds from the West of 35-55km/hr. Freezing level should be around 2000m.

No new avalanches were observed today but the places that have not gone look primed to go. The forecasters are still avoiding any exposure to larger slopes overhead. One recent avalanche in the Burstall area crossed the valley bottom into the trees on the opposite side and put a couple of meters of snow where skiers often put their track.

There is a temperature crust from the recent rain event up to 2250m. This has made travel below tree line very easy for going uphill and a little interesting for going downhill. A snow pit profile dug at Burstall Pass on Tuesday indicates a generally well settled snowpack sitting on 125cm of facets and depth hoar which has a four finger resistance. It is like putting something dense overtop of a bunch of "pick up sticks". Above 2300m in the alpine, there was either a soft slab approximately 20cm thick or widespread wind slab which is reactive to snow pit tests. Many slopes  that have not avalanched look primed for human triggering.  Good skiing can be found on moderate angled slopes in the alpine with no overhead hazard and sheltered areas at tree line.