West Slopes Central

Bulletproof, frozen snow surfaces should be the primary danger to backcountry travel. Bring the right equipment for hard snow conditions. Don’t linger beneath glide cracks or other overhead hazards.

Other than a very low chance of a glide avalanche, there should be little to no avalanche danger on Friday. Sunshine returns, but temperatures will drop to levels not seen in nearly two weeks, and northeasterly winds will add extra bite to the cold. Stronger inversions and much colder temperatures are likely the farther east you travel in the forecast zone.

The biggest risk to backcountry travel is probably surface conditions combined with low-snow hazards, such as exposed rocks, creeks, etc. Slick crusts, bumpy runnels, and other not-fun surface features will stick around until we get more snow. It’s advisable to bring along sharp and pointy things like ski and/or boot crampons, and some sort of self-arrest tool if venturing into steeper terrain.

Isolated pockets of unstable snow remain in the form of glide slabs and blocks clinging to cliffs and rocky terrain. Glide avalanches can still release during colder periods following a prolonged warm stretch. Identify these overhead hazards and limit your exposure regardless of temperature or sun. Watch for glide cracks, lumpy or wrinkled-looking snow below cliffs, and anything else that appears poorly attached to the mountain.