Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure has set up over the province and will bring mainly clear skies for the forecast period. Ridgetop winds should remain light while freezing levels should hover around valley bottom for all 3 days.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday and Monday, size 1 soft wind slabs were ski cut in steep, unsupported terrain. The new avalanches formed in response to new snow and wind.
Snowpack Summary
Since Saturday, the region received 15-20cm of new low-density snow. At higher elevations, generally moderate southeasterly winds have redistributed much of that snow into soft wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. In the upper 70cm of the snowpack you may find a layer of weak surface hoar which was the culprit with a recent avalanche on an east aspect at treeline in the Fitzsimmons Range. Reports indicate this layer is spotty in its distribution, but may be something to watch as the overlying slab gets deeper and gains cohesion through settlement, storm loading and wind pressing.The mid and lower snowpack are generally considered to be strong and well-settled.
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.