Conditions have been improving over the past week. Thin areas and new snow instabilities are the main concerns, but there is great skiing to be had.
Weather Forecast
A general warming trend over the next 2 days with alpine temperatures in the -10C range warming to -5C by Saturday. Only a few cm of snow is expected in the next few days with W winds increasing by the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
15-30cm of generally low density snow sits over previous surfaces. In deeper snowpack areas in Little Yoho the main concern is for new snow instabilities. Profiles are showing no results in the deeper layers previously found active (Dec 10). In thin areas, basal facets are well formed and still a concern for triggering larger avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported.
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.