Continue to assess the snowpack as you mmove through terrain. rider triggerable wind slabs could still be found. Smaller avalanches have the potential to step down to deeper layers resulting in very large avalanches. The snowpack in this region is unusually shallow and fragile.
Rider triggerable wind slab can likely still be found on northerly aspects from ongoing southerly winds.
Keep in mind that wind slab avalanches have the potential to step down to deeper weak layers creating large avalanches.
A weak layer, consisting of surface hoar, has been reported down 80 to 100 cm. This layer is of greatest concern on shaded, northerly aspects and in thinner snowpack areas where human-triggering is most likely.
Remote triggering is a concern for this layer. If triggered, this layer has the potential to step down to the weak faceted lower snowpack, creating large and destructive avalanches.
With the combination of a relatively thin snowpack and cold and dry temperatures earlier in the season, the lower snowpack consists of weak, unconsolidated facets and depth hoar crystals. Weak basal layers, a cautious approach to large open terrain features is required especially around rocky or thin areas.
No new avalanches reported in the last couple days in the region.
Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Ongoing southerly winds have scoured south facing terrain in the alpine and formed wind slab in specific north facing features. 20 to 40cm of recent snow sits over a crust formed near the end of December. This crust gets thinner and less supportive as you gain elevation.
In the mid-snowpack, a weak layer of surface hoar from early December has been observed down 80 to 100 cm. This layer is most prevalent in shaded and sheltered areas.
The lower snowpack consists of weak, sugary crystals of facets and depth hoar. This basal weakness remains a concern.
Snowpack depths remain highly variable, roughly 50 to 200 cm at treeline.
Tuesday night
trace amounts of new snow expected. Light to moderate southerly winds and a low of -12 at 1800m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate to strong easterly winds and freezing levels around 800m.
Thursday
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5cm of new snow. Moderate to strong southeast winds and freezing levels rising to 1200m.
Friday
Cloudy with flurries bringing around 5cm of new snow. Strong southerly winds. Freezing level around 1400m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
