A complex snowpack is making for challenging travel conditions in avalanche terrain. Exercise caution during this time of uncertainty.
The primary layer of concern in much of the region is a layer of surface hoar down 50-70 cm. If triggered, avalanches on this layer could step down to deeper weak layers.
A layer of weak facets near the ground may be reactive to human triggering. Especially in shallow, rocky areas in alpine terrain where the layer is not being capped by a crust.
Several explosive-triggered small wind slabs were reported on Wednesday in alpine terrain in the northern Purcells. One of these avalanches stepped down to basal facets, producing a size 2 avalanche.
A generally well-settled upper snowpack sits atop a particularly complex snowpack with several layers of note.
A layer of buried surface hoar is down roughly 50 to 70 cm and remains concerning in much of the region. It is less of a concern in areas where a strong, supportive crust exists above the surface hoar layer.
The lower snowpack is typically characterized by sugary, facetted crystals and a crust.
Snowpack depths at treeline average roughly 70-120 cm. However, there is significant variability in both snowpack structure and depths across the region.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy with no precipitation, southwest alpine winds 0 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
Mostly sunny with no precipitation, south alpine winds 0 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with no precipitation, south alpine winds 0 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow, northwest alpine winds 0 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
