Start with small slopes, and gather information before entering committing terrain.
Continue to be wary of a buried layer of surface hoar. The crust that was shielding it is getting weaker.
Potentially most reactive with above 0 temperatures around treeline, in areas where windslab sits on a layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals buried in mid December.
A persistent weak layer of surface hoar is buried down 60-90 cm in the snowpack. A frozen crust was reducing the chance of triggering this layer, but it has started to break down and get weaker.
On the weekend the only reported avalanches were loose in steep terrain, and wind slabs and cornices controlled by explosives. These avalanches were all small.
The surface hoar continues to cause concerning results in snowpack tests, and shows signs of instability like whumpfs and shooting cracks. Despite a lack of avalanche observations, we presume that large, human triggered avalanches are still possible in areas where the crust over it is thin or non-existent.
10-15 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by moderate southwest wind. This sits on old wind slabs, and sun crusts on steeper south aspects, and in areas sheltered from the wind, 5-30 mm surface hoar.
Down 30-50 cm a 5-15 cm thick, frozen crust exists. It has been observed up to 2350 m, but it is starting to break down at treeline and above, where it is thinner. A concerning layer of surface hoar buried in early December is 60-90 cm deep at treeline and above.
The lower snowpack is generally faceted, but is also moist in some areas in the south end of the forecast area.
Average treeline snowpack depths are between 80 and 150 cm. Snowpack depth tapers rapidly with elevation.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear. No new snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 2°C with above freezing layer.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Light to moderate south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 2°C with above freezing layer.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 2-5 cm of snow expected. Light to moderate south or southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -3°C with alpine temperature inversion.
Wednesday
Cloudy. 5-10 cm of snow expected. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1°C with alpine temperature inversion.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
