Good skiing can be found in many areas of the park. Early season hazards are still present below 1500 m.
Weather Forecast
As a ridge of high pressure begins to move in conditions are slowly changing to cool, dry and sunny weather. 5 cm of snow is forecast for the park today with treeline temperatures around -8 deg and light NW winds. Snow will taper out tonight bringing sunny skies above possible valley cloud tomorrow with cooler temperatures and no precipitation.
Snowpack Summary
A 60cm storm slab is gaining strength. Buried WSL exists in some areas. Nov28 layer which will be most reactive where it overlies a crust on steep SW-W slopes in the alpine or where surface hoar was buried. The Nov 6 crust may become reactive with increasing load in areas where it is breaking down with mixed forms and facets present around crusts.
Avalanche Summary
Little activity observed yesterday considering 15cm HN and past high to extreme winds. No new avals were observed along the highway corridor or in the Mt. Fidelity area. Minimal sluffing observed skiing steep sheltered slopes at all elevations. A medium avalanche cycle occured on Wednesday concentrated to the steep terrain east of Rogers Pass.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
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.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.