We have been able to move through the mountains cautiously this week at all elevations. Making careful terrain choices, and conservative group management, we've had consistently great skiing on low angled/low consequence north aspect slopes.
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy for Wednesday scattered flurries and possibly 5-8cm accumulation through the day and into Thursday. Light SW winds at ridge top forecasted to stay in that range with some gusts. Alpine temperatures warming slightly for highs near -2C.
Snowpack Summary
Creamy and settled surface snow with some wind effect in the open. Near surface non-persistent weaknesses, active on typically problematic features like convexities and immediate lees. Interfaces dwn between 60 and 100cms though the mid-pack with inconsistent mod to hard field test results. All this, sitting on a large, facet layer off the ground.
Avalanche Summary
New snow transport continuing to over-load cornices and immediate lee features making them susceptible to natural triggering.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
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.
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.