Rogers Pass and the surrounding Columbia Mtns have a weak basal snowpack this season, which is making all snow professionals work hard to identify hazards not normally seen in these areas.
Drop your desires a notch; ski/ride to the conditions we have this year.
The Jan 3 surface hoar (5-10mm) is buried ~40cm and is more reactive at ridgeline or in immediate lee features, where wind has stiffened the surface. If triggered, this slab has the potential to step down to the deeper persistent slab.
The Nov 17 layer, which consists of a faceted crust and decomposing surface hoar, highlights a weak basal snowpack.
Be particularly cautious in steep, rocky areas with thin snow coverage, where the majority of the snowpack is weak and faceted.
The weekend's natural avalanche cycle has passed, and in its wake we have observed isolated sz 1.5 to 2.5 soft slabs along the highway corridor, mostly from steep S'ly aspects.
Two surface hoar (SH) layers, present in the upper 40cm, are potential failure planes in areas where the surface snow has become slabby (ridgecrests, immediate lee features). The mid-pack facets are slowly rounding and gaining strength, while the basal facets and Nov 17 facet/SH/crust weakness are still reactive when isolated in snowpack tests.
Continuing mix of sun, cloud, and isolated flurries, with light winds at ridgetop.
Wed: mainly cloudy, trace to 4cm, Alp high -6*C, 1200m FZL, light SW wind
Thurs: mix of cloud and sun, trace snow, Alp high -8*C, 1000m FZL, light W wind
