It's exploring season! Whatever tools you use for travel, make sure they're sharp to deal with hard surfaces in the morning. Start and finish early to avoid getting caught in isothermal snow.
Slushy, isothermal snow conditions may emerge on directly sun-facing slopes during the heat of the day. Plan your route with this in mind to avoid getting surprised by difficult travel and rising wet loose avalanche danger.
No new avalanches have been reported recently, and under current conditions, very little activity is expected. If you get out into the backcountry, post a MIN!
All of the Island snowpack has now seen temperatures well above 0 °C. Clear overnights will allow surface crusts to form before daytime warming softens the surface again. Even after repeated melt-freeze cycles, travelers appear to still be finding enough boot and ski penetration for effective travel. Sharp footwear may be essential during the morning hours.
Expect surfaces to become moist during the day and even isothermal on sun-facing slopes. Wet loose avalanche danger emerges when this condition is in play, a counterpoint to slip-and-fall hazards when the surface is frozen. Outside of oscillating surface conditions, there are no layers of concern in the snowpack. We still have about 190 cm at 1450 m.
Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 5 to 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 7 °C. Freezing level to 2700 m.
Friday
Sunny before clouding over with light rain starting near end-of-day. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level falling from 2800 m to 2400 m.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with light rain at most elevations, 1 to 2 mm. Possible trace snowfall in high alpine. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level falling from 2400 m to 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
