Despite the MODERATE hazard rating, conservative terrain selection is still recommended. A disciplined approach is required for a very slowly changing weak snowpack.
If triggered the persistent slab is very likely to step down to the deeper instability and involve the entire winter's snowpack. Pay close attention at treeline where this layer is more commonly found.
Snowpack tests continue to indicate that human triggering of the deeper weak layers is a real possibility. Shallow rocky areas are particularly susceptible.
Nothin new today.
A very thin crust exists just below the snow surface, but thankfully this crust disappears above 2000m. A buried layer of surface hoar down 15 to 30cm at treeline continues to produce shears, but the main concern in the snowpack is the persistent moderate shears failing down 70 to 80cm in the mid-November facets. Despite these layers gaining a bit of strength, the lower half of the snowpack remains very weak, and any avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down to the lower weaknesses. Thin and rocky areas are of particular concern for triggering the deeper weak layers. Below 2100m the snowpack does not support the weight of a skier if you leave an established skin track.
Expect a mix of sun and cloud on Friday. Temperatures will between -9c and -14c, along with moderate NW winds.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
