Recent moderate winds have created isolated pockets of fresh windslab. Stay aware for subtle changes in wind affect as you transition into higher elevations.Great time to practice field skills by examining the interface at the Nov 12 crust.
Weather Forecast
Light scattered flurries accompanied by light South Westerly wind. Cooling and clearing trend over next 72 hours.
Snowpack Summary
Lower density snow sits on top of a 5-10cm thick crust between roughly 2100m and 2600m. Southwest winds have created new pockets of wind slab, which may be touchy in crossloaded areas within the elevation band where the crust exists. Below 1800m, survival skiing and/or hiking is the technique of choice.
Avalanche Summary
There was a significant skier triggered avalanche on Parker Ridge Sunday that was reported by the public. Slide was remotely triggered from 50m away by the third skier in the party and was a 60cm windslab that ran on the Nov 12 crust. Unconfirmed dimensions are 40m wide and ran for 250m; North. No involvement. No natural activity observed today.
Confidence
Due to the number 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.