The best and safest riding may be in sheltered terrain around treeline.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Overcast skies with possible sunny breaks / Moderate northeast winds / Alpine temperatures of about -19Thursday: Clear skies / Light ridgetop winds / Alpine temperatures of about -19Friday: Clear skies / Light ridgetop winds / Alpine temperatures of about -8
Avalanche Summary
Recent avalanche activity in the region has been reported as natural and skier triggered wind slabs up to size 2 in the alpine and at tree line.
Snowpack Summary
Recent light snowfall has been redistributed into thin wind slabs by strong winds. In general, snow surfaces are best described as heavily wind affected with scouring and sastrugi formation noted on many terrain features. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. There have been isolated reports of a surface hoar layer from early January buried about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas, although not much is known about its current reactivity. About 70cm below the surface, you'll find sugary facet crystals which formed during December's cold snap. Although avalanches are currently unexpected at this interface, this layer could come back to life with with warming, significant loading or a large trigger at a thin spot.
jlammers,
Avalanche Canada
