While decent skiing can be found in sheltered areas at upper elevations, the biggest hazard may currently be navigating the breakable crust on the return to valley bottom, don't be afraid to make kick turns.
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud and a few evening flurries are possible Tuesday, as a weak low pressure center is deflected south of us. A ridge building with high pressure to the North, will give clearing skies for Wednesday, and light to moderate Westerly winds. Temperatures remain consistent with highs of -3,and lows of -11 through the forecast period.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 5cm of new snow overlies: previous wind affected snow, old storm snow in sheltered areas, and a thin breakable rain crust below 1900m. Faceted layers in the mid and lower snowpack remain a concern, particularly in shallow snowpack areas where facetting is more pronounced and triggering is more likely.
Avalanche Summary
A few small size 1 loose snow avalanches were observed out steep terrain on Monday.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
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.