There is great riding to be had but don't let your guard down. Avalanche hazard still exists especially on ridge loaded lee features in the alpine and cross loaded terrain at and above tree-line.
Weather Forecast
Friday and Saturday look to be mainly dry. An artic front just inland stretches almost all the way down the coast and will keep freezing levels below 500m. Winds will be light and variable through the forecast period. Sunday will see light snowfall with accumulations of up to 5cm.
Avalanche Summary
The most recent storm snow is sluffing in steep terrain with minimal destructive potential. Some larger storm slab avalanche have been reported from the North Shore where conditions may be closer to what can be found around Garibaldi. Further north, a skier was involved in a size 2 avalanche in the Joffre group on Wednesday that released from a wind loaded pocket at ridgeline.
Snowpack Summary
Thursdays storm brought between 5 and 20cm of new low density snow to the region accompanied by light winds. This brings the total snow fall accumulations in the last 5 days up to 85cm. Temperatures have remained cool which will slow the settlement of the new snow. Fresh or buried old wind slabs can be found in immediate lee features on north to northeast aspects at tree-line and in the alpine.
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.