Start on small features and gain confidence before moving into bigger terrain. The recent snow is mostly loose, but if a slab is present, it could easily avalanche on a layer of weak, feathery, surface hoar crystals.
Winds switching from north to south have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects. Expect these wind slabs to be more reactive where they sit on top of a layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals. If you notice whumpfs or shooting cracks, retreat to mellower terrain.
On Saturday, a few size 2 avalanches were reported in the Hankin ski touring area. These avalanches were easily triggered by the weight of a rider, and they propagated across whole terrain features. They were sliding on a layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals, 20cm below the snow surface.
There is 5-15 cm of snow accumulation from the past several days. In exposed terrain this may be sitting on old buried wind slabs in lee terrain features near ridges.
Terrain sheltered from the wind has about 10-20 cm of soft snow. This snow may sit above a layer of surface hoar crystals, see the avalanche summary for reports of avalanches on this layer.
A weak layer of facets that formed during the arctic outbreak in December is buried 30 to 60 cm deep. Observations suggest it is fairly widespread, but not reactive to triggering under the current conditions.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light south wind. Freezing level around valley bottom. Alpine high around -3°C.
Sunday
Cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Light to moderate southeast wind. Alpine temperature around -5°C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Trace of snow expected. Light southwest wind. Alpine temperature around -5°C.
Tuesday
Possible clear skies overnight. Increasing cloud through the day. 2 cm of snow expected. Moderate to strong south and southwest wind. Alpine temperature around -7°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
