Weak layers have gained strength and are becoming unlikely to trigger yet not completely impossible, especially given their shallow, variable depth. You are most likely to trigger an avalanche in steep rocky terrain above 7,000 feet and on a shady aspect (E, NE, N, NW). Use caution on all aspects for avalanches and for early season obstacles like rocks and logs which are a serious problem and would amplify avalanche trauma.
While our persistent slab problem is fading it has been slow to heal. The likelihood is not impossible, so don't travel as if nothing is going to happen. Use caution on steep slopes, especially shady and rocky slopes that have the weakest snow. Test scores have improved and we have not gotten propagation on basal facets near the ground nor in facet layers that formed in November.
Our snowpack is very shallow and has weak layers that are threatening to people who look at snow. We have watched stability improve and digress and now improve to the point that we feel it would be really hard to trigger an avalanche on these layers unless time and cold temps weaken the bonds or we get a new load that hopefully people are praying for.
We have a weak snowpack that is made up of layers that will fail if we get more snow on top. Cold temps will weaken the upper snowpack and maybe some deeper layers. Most recently we have been growing surface hoar, and yesterday we buried a layer under 2 inches of new snow. Check out our observation from yesterday, as well as other observations on our observation page. Thanks to those who submit observations it helps us paint a clearer picture.
