Avalanche Forecast

A couple of large (size 2-3) persistent slab, human-triggered and natural avalanches have been reported within the last 7 days. Avalanches have occurred near ridgetops in north-to-northeast alpine terrain. These avalanches have shown an impressive capability to propagate across large distances. Here is a link to the most recent human-triggered size 3 avalanche.

If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.

5 cm of recent snow is slowly improving riding conditions. It is resting on a variety of wind-affected surfaces and crusts with small surface hoar in places in the alpine. This new layer should be monitored closely moving forward as new snow arrives early next week.

A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and/or facets is 50-80 cm deep and exists in north facing alpine features, creating a number of scary human-triggered avalanches.

Below roughly 1700 m a widespread 5-10 cm, melt-freeze crust is present.

Friday night

Cloudy. Flurries possible. Temperature -12 C overnight. Light southwest wind.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy. Possible flurries. Temperature rising to -9 C in the afternoon. Wind 20 km/h from the southwest.

Mostly cloudy. 2cm of snow. Temperature -5C. Wind 40-50 km/h from the southwest.

Mostly cloudy. 2 cm of snow. Temperature -4. Wind 50 km/h from the southwest.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
• Use caution on large alpine slopes, especially around thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilities.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
• Persistent slabs have potential to pull back to lower angle terrain.