The recent storm snow is making for good quality skiing throughout the park.
Keep a watch out for whumpfing, hollow sounds and shooting cracks that would indicate the snowpack is weak and possible to rider triggering.
Several persistent weak layers are present in the mid to lower snowpack. These layers are still reacting in the moderate to hard range in snowpack tests. Exercise extra caution if you are planning on travelling in areas that haven't been skied yet this season.
A widespread storm slab is present throughout the park. It is bonding to the snow below with continued warm temperatures and settlement. It is possible for skiers to trigger this layer. Moderate southerly winds have redistributed some of this snow in the alpine and exposed areas at treeline.
On Thursday we observed two natural avalanches, size 2-2.5 along the highway corridor from steep terrain on N and SE asp.
Skiers were triggering avalanches in neighboring operations just outside the park on Wednesday, these accidentally triggered avalanches were up to size 3.0 in size, and primarily failing at the storm snow/facet interface.
Artillery control on Xmas and Boxing Day had good results, with many avalanches observed in the sz 2.5-3.5 range. There was evidence of step-down avalanches on the persistent weak layers.
Recently built storm slabs, 55-65cm deep, sit on top of a weak and faceted snowpack. This interface will likely persistent as a weak layer for awhile.
Nov 17 SH down 100-120 cm, while still obvious in the snowpack, has mostly been unreactive in stability tests over the past three days. The Dec 05 and Dec 17th SH have been unreactive in tests since the storm.
A weakening front affecting the Coast will give unsettled weather into the weekend.
Friday: Flurries, up to 5cm of snow. Alpine low -10*C, high -5*C, 1300m freezing level (FZL). Light SW ridgetop wind.
Sat: Flurries, up to 10cm snow. Alpine low -9*C, High -7*C, 1200m FZL. Light SW wind.
Sun: Clearing. Alpine low -13*C, High -9*C. Light W wind.
