A fine Thursday and Friday. Great backcountry conditions in the Hutt Range right now.
Wind Slabs will be unlikely to trigger. Unreactive deposits certainly exist across the Easterly 1/2. These slabs are isolated to start zones near ridge top and cease to exist lower down in terrain features.
Loose Wet avalanches will be unlikely on Friday afternoon only. With a rise in FAFL we wary of steep, rocky NW 1/2 terrain.
None reported in the past 48 hours.
There has been little change in the Hutt Range during the past 72 hours. Wind deposits have accumulated in sheltered terrain across the Easterly 1/2. In places, these are up to 50cm deep and easily identified and avoided. Elsewhere, the rain crust from July 15th will be exposed. Underneath the rain crust, there is no significant layering of note, with the snowpack below this well consolidated through to ground.
Thursday: Fine, light winds, FAFL 1500m rising to 1800m.
Friday: Fine with high cloud developing. NW winds fill in during the afternoon and rise to moderate. FAFL rising to 2400m.
Terrain exposed to previous gale winds has the rain crust at the surface. Assess before ending up on steep slope, a set of crampons and an axe may come in handy.
High
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
