Little Prairie 67cm, Forum Ridge ascent still only 70 to 80 with 120cm at 2150 meters on the east lee aspect. Alders, stumps and rocks continue to be a big hazard ...don't get carried away yet! It is still early December.
Weather Forecast
The Dec 2nd storm snow which came in from the NE is now being redistributed with a very strong westerly flow. These winds will blow strong from the west through the forecast period and slabs will build on easterly lee terrain. Temperatures will warm to minus single digits for treeline terrain by Thursday. Only trace amounts of new snow are likely.
Snowpack Summary
Strong westerly flow stripping windward and creating slabs on the lee. SSL at 1850 to 2150 meters BTL. Expect stiffer slabs in alpine areas that could be triggered. Tests on an E asp at 2140m on Forum Ridge showed failure down 35cm (CTH22) and deeper in the pack another weak layer down 80cm (CTH29) though it is bridged with 20cm pencil layer.
Avalanche Summary
Debris from one size 2 avalanche observed Monday falling to mid slope from very steep NE terrain on Buchanan Peak with load from strong westerly winds.
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.