Avalanche conditions remain dangerous. The snowpack is underlain by weak faceted snow on north facing slopes above 8500 feet and on additional aspects as elevation rises. Recent snow could be triggered as small wind slabs but the greater concern and likelihood lies with the ability for a single person to trigger deeper layers involving snow that has fallen since late November. Tracks are not an indication of stability and slopes may fail after several people have already skied or ridden it several times. Exercising discipline to stay in low angle terrain as well as understanding the distribution of the persistent snow layer(s) is essential for safe backcountry travel. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,000 feet.
Above 8500 feet, recent snow and strong winds have further increased the load on weak faceted snow layers that persist near the base of the snowpack. In steep avalanche terrain humans could trigger these dangerous slab avalanches that could range in depth from one to three feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Cloud cover is to increase overnight and skies are to be overcast on Tuesday morning. During the afternoon skies are to be mostly cloudy. Temperatures in the mountains are to be near ten degrees in the morning, rising into the low twenties in the afternoon. On summits west winds are to have averages between ten and fifteen miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard will remain Considerable. Above 8500 feet, dangerous avalanche conditions continue. Persistent weak snow layers that were covered in late November could be triggered by presence of a single person, even after a slope has been tracked several times. These conditions exist mostly on slopes with a northerly component in aspect although in higher terrain weak snow can be found on more aspects, therefore snowpack evaluation is warranted in all steep terrain. These slabs could have depths of one two four feet. Recent snow and strong winds have further loaded this weakness and conditions remain sensitive.
