Avalanche danger is decreasing, make sure to evaluate conditions as you travel.
Buried weak layers are still a concern - manage large open slopes at treeline carefully and avoid areas where the snowpack thins.
20-50cm of settling snow sits over the January 30 surface hoar and crust layer. Treat open slopes at and below treeline with extra caution where the surface hoar is most prominent.
The mid January crust/facet layer is down 40 to 120 and could be triggered in shallow snow pack areas or by a large load such as a cornice or step down avalanche.
A cooling trend lowers freezing levels this week and a weak front brings light snowfall on Monday.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Freezing levels fall to 1000m overnight. Moderate southwest winds.
MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with flurries bringing up to 3cm over the day. Freezing levels reach 1100m, with light to moderate southwest winds and an alpine high of -4.
TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Chance of flurries. Moderate westerly winds with an alpine high of -2. Freezing levels 1200m.
WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Chance of flurries. Moderate to strong northwest winds, alpine high of -6 with 1000m freezing levels.
On Saturday several natural persistent slabs were observed, triggered by tree bombs and cornice failures from the warmer temperatures. These failed on the late January surface hoar layer, on all aspects at treeline. A rider triggered a size 1.5 avalanche on this layer on Tuesday, in a steep south facing treeline feature.
Several natural and human triggered wind slab avalanches to size 2 have been reported this week, on north through east facing slopes.
The warming trend last week also produced skier triggered wet loose avalanches to size 1.5 in steep south facing terrain at treeline; and large naturally triggered cornice falls
Exposed terrain at alpine and treeline elevations hold dense wind effected surfaces with large cornices from westerly winds. Sheltered areas and lower elevations hold a widespread melt freeze crust.
The late January interface is buried 20-50cm deep, and consists of a melt-freeze crust at lower elevations and on solar aspects extending into the alpine. Surface hoar sits above the crust in sheltered areas at treeline and below.
Several surface hoar layers are now buried in the upper snowpack 40-120cm deep. The snowpack below is well consolidated, with the early-December crust/facet persistent weak layer buried 80-150 cm deep. It is currently considered dormant. We expect this layer to become active later this season, check out the forecaster blog for more information.
