Backcountry travelers venturing into steep, avalanche-prone terrain could trigger recently developed surface slabs at the mid and upper elevations. As the warms, the likelihood of triggering these slides will increase, particularly on sunlit aspects. At the lower elevations, skiers and riders might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.
Dense surface slabs, one to three feet in depth, lie upon wind pack and sun crusts. Very steep, unsupported slopes are the most suspect. Due to the density of these slabs, the consequences of being caught are higher than typically expected with slides of these depths.
Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected through Friday. High temperatures are to reach the mid to upper twenties at all elevations. Winds are to be from the west to northwest with averages below fifteen miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate above 7500 feet. Dense to hard slabs could be triggered with depths to three feet that lie upon a mixture of old crusts and faceted snow. These slabs will be most susceptible to failure in very steep terrain, particularly above and just below cliffs. Avalanches below 7500 feet are not expected.
