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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 14th, 2025–Apr 15th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

North-facing slopes in the alpine hold the best ski quality, but they also are concealing a reactive surface hoar layer. Folks in and around the region have been caught off-guard by this layer, resulting in several avalanche involvements.

Carefully assess your line for this weak layer before committing.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

One natural glide slab was observed on the 12th. Otherwise, no new natural activity reported since the 10th

On Friday there was a backcountry report of skier triggered sz 2 wind slab on the Dome glacier at 2450 m on a NE asp. This avalanche likely failed on a layer of surface hoar down 15-40 cm

A wide-propagating(~500m) sz 2.5 was also triggered by skiers on Friday up the Bruins Glacier.

Snowpack Summary

Daily melt/freeze cycles are affecting the surface of the snowpack on solar slopes and all aspects BTL, with several crusts of variable strength in the upper snowpack. High alpine, north facing slopes still hold dry snow. A buried surface hoar layer exists down 15-40cm in sheltered north alpine areas above ~2300m. This layer is reactive to human triggering and is catching people off guard.

Below treeline, conditions are variable and challenging travel exists.

Weather Summary

Isolated flurries Tues, then back to sun/cloud and gusty winds for a few days.

Tonight Mainly cloudy, isolated wet flurries. Alp low -1°C. Ridge wind SW 25-35km/h. Freezing Level (FZL) 1900m

Tues Cloudy, some sun, isolated flurries. Alp high 2°C. Wind W 20-35km/h. FZL 2100m

Wed Mix sun & cloud. Alp high -3°C. Wind N 20-45km/h. FZL 1800m

Thurs Sun and cloud. Alp high -1°C. Ridge wind N 15-30km/h. FZL 2000m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to buried surface hoar.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.