Be aware of large cornices, glide cracks and thin snow bridges on glaciers.
Weather Forecast
Cloudy skies with very light snow is forecast for the park today. Temperatures will rise over the next couple days. Light precipitation is expected to continue on Saturday with a dry day forecast for Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
Light new snow covers a layer of surface hoar down 10 - 15 cm. Surface hoar was observed between 1400 - 1900 meters, largest in areas sheltered from the wind. Isolated pockets of wind slab may also have been covered. These persist on wind exposed slopes, and lee slopes near ridge crests. The mid-pack remains strong and well-settled.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday we observed two natural avalanches out of steep terrain east of Rogers Pass. A small avalanche cycle occurred on Wednesday, likely from overnight winds on Dec. 25. Skiers are reporting fast moving surface sluffing in low density HN and faceted snow in the upper pack.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.