Travel on well-supported slopes with little to no overhead hazard threatening you. Large, deep avalanches are possible with the right trigger.
Weather Forecast
We should see a weak system pass through the area today, bringing 5-10cm of snow and moderate westerly winds. Freezing levels will remain in the valley bottom. As we head into the weekend, a drying trend will bring isolated flurries with cooler alpine temp's (-15*C) and light mountain-top winds.
Snowpack Summary
100-140cm of recent storm snow, deeper amounts west side of the summit, is settling over the Feb 10 facet/surface hoar/crust interface. The Jan 28 and Jan 22 surface hoar layers are 5-10cm below this interface. Test results on the Feb 10 interface are consistently sudden planar or sudden collapse in character, making this a spooky layer to watch.
Avalanche Summary
Natural activity is tapering off, but field teams experienced plenty of whumphing and cracking while traveling in supported terrain with no overhead hazard. A significant event west of the park saw wind blast from a slide from extreme terrain knock down 150 year-old timber. Things are still remaining touchy, but with higher consequence now.
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.
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.
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.