Large human triggered avalanches remain possible. Start with small test slopes and build up slowly to the bigger terrain features. There is still a lot of uncertainty associated with this early winter snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Fairly benign weather is forecast through the forecast period. WEDNESDAY: 2-5cm, light northwest winds, -10 at 1500m. THURSDAY: 2-10cm of snow, light to moderate southeast winds, -10 at 1500m, FRIDAY: Flurries, light west winds, -10 at 1500m.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity appears to have tapered off since the weekend. Avalanche professionals are reporting sluffing in steep terrain and in response to ski cutting.
Snowpack Summary
Another 5-15 cm of new snow fell in the Cariboos on Monday. There is apparently minimal wind effect in the alpine. In some places a thin crust can be found down about 20 to 45cm on all aspects as high as 1800m. Below this, down 80 to 130cm, the early December persistent weak layer is lurking. This layer can be found as a crust on solar aspects in the alpine and at tree-line. Below tree-line it has been showing up as isolated pockets of large surface hoar and/or small facets especially between 1400 and 1800m. Snow pit tests on this interface have been widely variable producing sudden planar, resistant planar and sudden collapse results. The mid and lower portions of the snowpack are thought to be well settled.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.