Good "dust on crust" skiing can be found at treeline elevations on moderate south facing terrain. Watch for signs of daytime heating destabilizing the snowpack. Snowballing is a good example that the time to head home is arriving.
Weather Forecast
Cool temperatures with an upper elevation NW flow will remain over the area until Wednesday evening. Wind directions and speeds will vary greatly across the range with elevation but will, at upper elevations, be from the NW and moderate. Precipitation amount will be similarly variable with up to 10cm near the Continental Divide at upper elevations.
Snowpack Summary
25-35 cm of moist storm snow is sitting on an isothermal snowpack at treeline. Storm slabs 30-50 cm thick are on sitting on the April 25th melt freeze crust in the alpine. Cool temperatures will maintain the buried crust at lower elevation until the afternoon . Windslabs can be expected on South and East facing slopes in the Icefields area .
Avalanche Summary
With limited visibility at and above treeline no recent avalanches observed have been reported. Spindrift loss snow avalanches can be anticipated from steep and rocky terrain at treeline and above. Bonding between the new storm slabs and the old sun crust should be regarded as touchy with the potential of trigger of slab avalanches is possible.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain on Thursday
Problems
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.