Meow is the time for getting high and traveling in the Alpine. The pronounced temp inversion can be especially problematic for ice climbing. High, steep, solar affected overhead features could release without warning.
Weather Forecast
High pressure and connected ridge is here and will stay put for the foreseeable future. Winds are forecasted to be light to moderate from the north. This is setting up a weak temp inversion which is expected to become more pronounced as the year comes to an end. High S aspects will be glorious riding and north aspects will stay nice, dry and cool.
Snowpack Summary
Variable and frustrating wind slabs in open or exposed terrain wreaking havoc with the riding conditions. The snowpack continues to facet with recent cold temperatures losing some overall depth as it drys and settles. The mid-pack is slowly weakening from the cold but thus far is still bridging the facetted base weakness in deeper areas.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.