There is skiing above 1900m! But, all the ice climbs have fallen off too! Access to higher elevations requires the use of summer trails still, and watch for early season hazards (rocks, stumps) that are hidden just below the surface.
Weather Forecast
Continued mild temperatures are expected with some potential for modest accumulations of snow above 1700m. Drying expected Wed and Thurs. Likely to experience continued moderate W and SW winds throughout the period.
Snowpack Summary
Little to no snow below 1500m. At 1800m there is approx 60 cm which does not allow travel off of summer trails. A rain crust buried Nov 30 persists to 1950m. At 2000m we have found over 150cm in sheltered areas with crusts found only at the bottom.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity has centered around extreme terrain in the immediate lee areas from recent winds. Visibility has been poor in the last 48-hours with fog and precipitation.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
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.