Avoid north-facing alpine and treeline slopes, as this is where triggering persistent weak layers is most likely.
Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.
Previous southwest wind built wind slabs on lee north and east slopes. If triggered, wind slab avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in very large avalanches.
Natural avalanche activity has tapered off, but human triggering remains possible.
Over the weekend, numerous natural and human-triggered avalanches, up to size 3, occurred on all elevations and aspects, many failing on the late January persistent weak layer.
On Saturday, a skier remotely triggered a size 3 persistent. See MIN for photos and details.
10 to 15 cm of new snow sits on a melt-freeze crust that extends to ridge tops on all aspects, except northerly slopes above 1700 m, where surfaces remained dry through the warm-up.
A weak layer formed in February, consisting of facets, surface hoar, or a crust, is found 30 to 60 cm deep. Additional weak layers formed in January are present within the upper 100 cm of snow, including faceted snow, crusts on south-facing slopes, and surface hoar in shaded terrain.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
