Not much new snow out there, but wind slabs are present in Alpine areas. Small avalanches are possible in isolated terrain features. Be wary of the consequences of even a small avalanche and choose terrain accordingly.
Weather Forecast
There is no precipitation in the forecast for the next several days. Alpine temperatures should be near -10 degrees on Sunday and will slowly moderate over the next few days. Winds on Sunday will be moderate to strong from the North.
Avalanche Summary
A size 1.5 slab avalanche occurred at the ice climbs "The Lone Ranger" and "The Chalice and the Blade". A sluff initiated above the climbs, flowed over the climbs and then triggered a wind slab up to 40cm deep. The debris ran into the gully, and surprised an ice climber who was walking up to the base of the route. The flow ran up to the knees of the climber but he was not buried.
Snowpack Summary
Wind effect in the Alpine. The November rain crust is buried 15cm on average at Treeline and will be deeper in wind loaded features and in the Alpine. An October rain crust is evident at the base of the snowpack.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.