Watch for slab conditions on lee aspects of ridges and terrain features. Choose your travel and ski lines to avoid overhead hazards are cornices are large and ready to fall.
Weather Forecast
A small system is expected to bring 6 - 10cm of new snow for Saturday. This will combine with sun and clouds to make some good skiing weather.
Snowpack Summary
Soft slabs were observed on Northerly aspects around terrain features in the Whistler creek area at alpine and treeline elevations. A temperature crust can be found on all aspects up to 2500m. A supportive midpack sits over a weak basal facet layer in most areas at treeline and above. Large cornices exist at ridge line.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanches reported in the forecast area. No natural avalanches were observed during a fieldtrip to the Whislter creek drainage. However, some snowballing was evident on solar aspects in the afternoon
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday
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.