Travel is generally safer in deeper more uniform snowpack areas. Triggering the persistent problem and stepping down to deeper layers is most likely in thin or variable depth snowpack areas.
The Feb 3 crust/facet interface is down 70-100 cm. We haven't seen any activity on this layer in deeper snowpack areas, but there have been several recent skiier triggered avalanches in thinner snowpack areas east of the divide. If triggered, this may gouge down to the basal facets.
No new avalanches were observed in this region over the past few days, however in thinner snowpack areas east of the divide, we have seen 4 size 2-3 skiier triggered avalanches in the last 6 days. These have all been from northerly aspect areas between 2000-2600m in thinner snowpack areas. See the bulletin for eastern Banff for more details.
A few cms of new snow covers suncrust on solar aspects and dry snow on polar aspects. Below this, the March 20th crust exists everywhere except north aspects above 1800 m and is helping reduce the sensitivity of the lower snowpack layers.
Our main concern is thin snowpack areas on northerly alpine aspects. This is where the mid-pack Feb 3 facets/crust layer and the basal facets/depth hoar remain weakest. Deeper snowpack areas have few concerns.
A small system is approaching the Rockies that should bring 10-20 cm of snow by Saturday AM. Expect 5-10 cm Thursday and again on Friday. Winds will generally be light from the SW with freezing levels staying below 1500m. A clearing trend starts Saturday AM.
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