Avalanche Forecast

Isolated sluffing up to sz 1 from extreme terrain.

The upper snowpack consists of 20-30cm of snow that for the most part has seen very little wind affect with the exception being along ridgelines in the Alpine where isolated windslabs can be found 20-30cm thick. This snow has been faceting under the cooler temperatures keeping it generally low density. Deeper in the snowpack the February 3rd melt freeze crust is being found up to 2500m. This crust is thick and supportive in the valley floors and get progressively thinner as you approach alpine terrain to where it peters out. The bond with the overlying snow and the underlying crust will be important to evaluate in your travels. Otherwise, the snowpack depth is generally 70-150cm on average and fairly thin for this time of year. Thin weak spots will be places to avoid especially in steeper terrain wherein you may be able to trigger the arctic facets or even the deeper basal facets. The sun also packs a punch at this time of year and even with the cooler temperatures over the past few days, we have noted moist snow on steeper solar aspects later in the day.

Another cold day in store with morning temperatures in the -20s but warming up to the mid teens. No new snow is forecast and winds will be light out of the NW.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.