Be alert for changing snow conditions as you approach the alpine (wind slabs). Good skiing can be found at tree line and below.
Weather Forecast
Thursday is suppose to bring mainly cloudy skies with isolated flurries; total accumulation at a whole 4cm. Alpine temperatures are expected at -5c along with another windy day for Thursday with west winds at 30-45km/h. A lot warmer weather is expected for the weekend.
Avalanche Summary
One size 2 slab avalanche was observed up Murray Creek.One size 2 slab avalanche was observed in the Goat Range.Several loose dry avalanches up to size 2 were observed in the Chester Lake area. These might be older ones (24-48hrs old)
Snowpack Summary
The winds are the most interesting part. We have had three days of moderate winds from the SW and tomorrow, they are calling for more winds from the West. This has created a wind slab that is 30-60cm deep and will be mostly found along lee features, and in cross loaded gullies.The hazard rating for the alpine is Considerable, mostly because of these new wind slabs. Thursday will be the first warmish type day with freezing levels rising to 1800m or valley bottom of the Spray road. The skiing has remained good at tree line and below.
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.