Great skiing can be found, but be cautious of wind slabs in immediate lee features, as well as dry, loose avalanches from your own sluffing.
Enjoy the longer days of Spring. This is when the best skiing is had...just don't let the secret get out!
Gusty winds will load leeward slopes in wind-exposed terrain. Expect this problem to be most reactive in ridge top features. If triggered, these avalanches may travel farther and faster than expected on a buried crust.
Watch your sluff on steeper terrain. There is enough dry, loose powder on the surface that can quickly build up and push you off your feet.
Dry, loose avalanches up to size 1 were noted from steeper terrain (>40 degrees) on NW through E aspects.
A widespread, natural avalanche cycle occurred up to size 4.0 on Mar 19-20 during the atmospheric river. Check out pics from the recent mega avalanche cycle in the MIN Reports. It shows some of the huge debris piles that are making travel challenging.
Gusty winds have created wind slabs in exposed terrain, while sheltered features hold dry, loose snow lying on a firm crust. South through West aspects may have a surface crust on steeper slopes.
Below the storm snow, a strong crust exists up into treeline. Another crust from early March is down 70-150cm.
Travel can be challenging below treeline with frozen tree bombs and huge avalanche debris from last week's super storm.
Sun and cloud with isolated flurries.
Tonight Scattered clouds. Alpine low -12°C. Ridge wind SW 10-20km/h. Freezing level (FZL) valley bottom.
Tues Mix of sun and cloud. High -5°C. Wind S 10-25km/h. FZL 1500m.
Wed Cloudy, isolated flurries, trace amounts. High -3°C. Wind 10-30km/h. FZL 1800m.
Thurs Flurries, 5-10cm. High -3°C. Wind N 10-20km/h. FZL 1900m.
