The cold snap continues - although today was an improvement to -15 in some areas! The snowpack is generally quite stable owing to the cold air, and if you can manage the temperatures, the avalanche conditions are favorable. Dress as warm as you can!
Summary
Weather Forecast
A few more days of cold air, but hang in there as change is on the way. Light snow on Thursday with temperatures ranging from -20 to -25 (hope for -15 mid day, in the sun). Winds at ridge crests will remain moderate from the NW. Temperatures will start to moderate over the weekend, and by 2018 we should see temperatures get warmer than -10,
Snowpack Summary
The upper snow-pack is facetting with the cold temperatures and starting to sluff easily in steep terrain. Some thin, hard wind slabs observed in lee areas in the alpine. The Dec.15 layer of surface hoar (below 2100m) and hard surfaces or facets (depending on location) is down 15-30 cm. Some moderate shears have been observed around this interface.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche control at Sunshine Village resulted in thin windslabs near rocks and cliffs, but running far down the path because of the unconsolidated facets.
Confidence