Confidence
Fair - Due to variable weather conditions on Saturday
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Generally light snowfall with moderate amounts expected on the Coquihalla / Moderate with locally strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 1200mSunday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light and variable winds / Freezing level at surfaceMonday: Light snowfall / Light south winds / Freezing level at 1000m
Avalanche Summary
Loose wet avalanche activity to size 2 was observed on solar aspects on Friday. The avalanche activity occurred in response to high freezing levels and direct sunlight. I expect a shift to wind slab activity with cooling, wind and new snow forecast for Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
Very light amounts of recent snowfall in the Duffey Lake area and over 20cm on the Coquihalla have been distributed into wind slabs at higher elevations. On shaded slopes the recent snow may overlie surface hoar which was buried on February 11th. On solar aspects and at lower elevations a melt freeze crust is likely to exist.Below this there are a few buried interfaces which include crusts, facets and surface hoar. My guess is that they are gaining considerable strength; however, it's worth digging down and testing these layers before committing to a steep line.The mid and lower snowpack pack layers are generally well settled.
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.