Choose mellow terrain that is sheltered from the wind.
Uncertainty about a persistent weak layer means that it's not time to venture into steep or consequential terrain.
Continued snowfall is keeping a surface snow avalanche problem alive. Expect slabs to be deeper and more reactive on leeward slopes due to recent south through west wind.
This layer is getting harder to trigger, but still has potential to produce a very large avalanche.Use extra caution on large open slopes at treeline, where surface hoar is more likely to be preserved.
A large avalanche was remotely triggered on the early December layer (see this MIN). This shows that the early December layer may still linger, especially on north to east aspects around 2200 m. This layer may now be harder to trigger, but it could result in a very large, deadly avalanche.
Otherwise, numerous small natural and rider triggered avalanches were reported in the recent snow, especially in steep terrain.
As moderate snowfall continues, expect to find 30 to 70 cm of settling snow in sheltered areas, and wind slabs on lee slopes below peaks and ridgelines. On sun affected slopes, the recent snow covers a melt freeze crust.
A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and in some places surface hoar is buried 60 to 110 cm deep. The distribution is variable throughout this region but it is most prevalent between 1700 to 2300 m.
Cornices are large and fragile from recent winds and mild temperatures.
Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with 3 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, possible hotspots of 20 cm or more. 20 to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -5 °C.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow, possible hotspots of 15 cm. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
