The snowpack is continuing to adjust to the extended period of loading that started at the beginning of the year, and avalanche conditions remain dangerous above 7,500 feet. Up there, skiers and riders could trigger small pockets of newly developed wind slab in steep, wind loaded terrain. Large to very large persistent deep slab avalanches remain a serious concern at all elevations, and involvement in one of these destructive slides could easily result in a fatality. On Wednesday, a snowmobiler was fully buried in a terrain trap in the Horse Creek Drainage in the Wyoming Range. Luckily, another party witnessed the event and performed a successful rescue. Conservative terrain choices and expert snowpack evaluation skills will be required for safe travel in avalanche terrain.
Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds easily transported yesterday’s light density snow, and new winds slabs up to a foot deep formed on leeward slopes above 7,500 feet. Backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs with depths up to 12 inches in steep, wind loaded terrain.
Persistent weak layers of faceted snow that formed during the extended dry period towards the end of December, along with basal facets that developed prior to Thanksgiving, were the culprits in a substantial avalanche cycle earlier in the week. Above 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers could trigger persistent deep slab avalanches failing on these weak layers with slab depths ranging from 4 to 8 feet. Below 7,500 feet, slabs failing on faceted snow could vary in depth from 1 to 3 feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Light snowfall will be possible overnight and into Saturday before dissipating later in the day. Expect overcast skies through Saturday morning followed by decreasing cloud cover in the afternoon. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the single digits before rising into the mid-teens during the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will back to the southwest and decreased to 10 to 15 miles per hour.Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable above 7,500 feet on Saturday. Skiers and riders could trigger small pockets of newly formed wind slab in steep, wind loaded terrain. Large to very large persistent deep slab avalanches remain a serious concern. Above 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs with depths ranging from 4 to 8 feet. Below 7,500 feet, slabs failing on faceted snow could vary in depth from 1 to 3 feet.
