Avalanche danger will rise on solar aspects during the day. Hunt for good dry snow and lower hazard on the north side of the mountain!
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Mainly sunny. The freezing level jumps to around 1600-1800 m and ridge winds are light to moderate from the east-southeast. SATURDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is around 1800-2100 m and winds remain light. SUNDAY: Light to moderate snow or rain with freezing levels near 1800-2100 m and light ridge winds.
Avalanche Summary
Cornices continue to pop off with regularity. Some are triggering slabs below and others are not. In the north of the region on Sunday, a cornice collapse triggered a size 3.5 deep slab avalanche which failed on glacier ice. A second size 3.5 deep persistent slab was observed nearby on Tuesday likely occurring around the same time. Forecast sunshine and warming will likely increase cornice activity and cause loose wet snow to continue shedding from steep sun exposed slopes.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface consists of a sun crust or moist snow on sun-exposed slopes (depending on the time of day), dry settled powder on shady slopes (cool temperatures have maintained good snow quality), and pockets of fresh wind slab in lee and cross-loaded terrain features near ridge crests. In general, the snowpack is strong and well-settled throughout with no notable persistent weaknesses. Cornices are reported to be large and fragile.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.