A hard crust exists at the base of the snowpack on steep northerly aspects above an elevation of 9,000 feet. A second crust formed when the freezing level rose to around an elevation of 9,800 feet last Friday. Careful evaluations of these crust layers as potential sliding surfaces are warranted. Terrain assessment efforts should consider the potential consequences of triggering a slide on one of these crust layers. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 9,000 feet.
If a slab avalanche is triggered on Fridays crust it could be 6 to 18 inches deep. A slab triggered on the basal crust could be up to 2 feet deep. Small avalanches can cause serious injuries if skiers, riders or hunters are swept into rocky areas, over cliffs or into terrain traps.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The northwest will continue to bring snow showers to the region for the next 48 hours. Snow shower activity will be isolated to scattered. Favored areas could pick up a couple of inches of light density snow. Temperatures in the mountains will remain in the teens and 20s. West-northwest winds will decrease to 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW. A hard crust exists at the base of the snowpack on steep northerly aspects above an elevation of 9,000 feet and on a variety of aspects above an elevation of 10,500 feet. Another crust formed three days ago when the freezing level rose to around an elevation of 9,800 feet. Careful evaluations of these crust layers as potential sliding surfaces are warranted. If a dense slab avalanche was triggered on Fridays crust it would be 6 to 18 inches deep. A slab triggered on the basil crust could be up to 2 feet deep. Terrain assessment efforts should consider the potential consequences of triggering a slide on one of these crust layers. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 9,000 feet.
