East Slopes South

Triggering an  avalanche is unlikely in the East South mountains. Firm, variable travel will continue to be your most significant mountain hazard. Normal caution is advised. 

Saturday was cold and windy around the East South forecast area. Sunday is shaping up to be similar, but a touch warmer and less windy as the day progresses. The morning will feel cold, but freezing levels should start climbing during the late afternoon and evening hours. If you play your aspect and timing carefully, you might be able to score some softening surfaces along solar aspects (SW-SE) at middle and lower elevations during the early afternoon hours.

The snowpack has endured a beating over the last week of high pressure. Lower elevations are challenging, surfaces are slick, and some steeper solar aspects have melted down to bare ground. That said, good riding on ‘recycled powder’ can still be found on open slopes facing north or east. 

Triggering a wind slab has trended unlikely, but it may not be impossible. Weather stations reported strong NE winds across higher weather stations, so there's a chance these high winds built thin slabs in wind exposed terrain The most likely place to find this avalanche problem is steep, rocky terrain above treeline. Look for blowing snow and wind-textured dunes to help you anticipate where wind slabs may lurk. 

Firm, variable travel will continue to be the most significant, non-avalanche hazard during this period. Long, sliding falls have been reported in neighboring zones in the past days, so consider packing the proper gear and be cognizant of runaway machines on icy slopes. 

The snowpack continues to weaken during the long period of high pressure. Snow surfaces vary from crusts, pockets of old wind drifted snow, tracked out slopes, to softer recrystallizing snow on shaded terrain.  While the weak upper snowpack is not an issue right now, it will be worth keeping tabs as snow begins to fall again. 

Let us know what you see. Submit an observation here.