A reactive persistent weak layer of surface hoar down 40cm resides below surface layers. Take time to evaluate the snowpack as you transition into avalanche terrain.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy today with flurries and light SW wind. Alpine temperatures should reach -11C. Sunny with cloudy periods through the weekend with daytime highs in the -15 to -17C range and light northerly winds.
Snowpack Summary
40cm of storm snow sits on top of the Dec 15 surface hoar/persistent weak layer. On steeper solar aspects this layer is a crust and/or a crust with small surface hoar on top. The crust runs well up into the alpine on steep south aspects. Deeper in the pack there are a series of crust layers that are currently well bonded to neighboring layers.
Avalanche Summary
6 natural avalanches to size 2.5 off the north face of Mt MacDonald before control yesterday. Avalanche control east of Rogers Pass summit produced avalanches up to size 3 with most slides in the size 2 range. These slides were confined to the recent dry storm snow running far and fast. Slides lost momentum where they ran into old avalanche debris.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations