Dangerous slabs lie in the backcountry at the mid and high elevations. Formed during a recent period of strong west winds these slabs could be triggered by backcountry travelers and once initiated could involve older weak snow with total depths to five feet. This may occur even after a slope has been previously skied when a sensitive shallow point or "trigger point" is hit.
Dense to hard surface slabs up to four feet in depth lie upon slick snow surfaces and faceted snow. These slabs will be most sensitive to larger loads such as snow machines but could still release to the weight of one skier when a weak spot is impacted. Being caught in such a slide is likely to cause serious injury or death.
Weak snow persists at the base of the snowpack on northerly aspects above an elevation of 9,000 feet. In this terrain very dangerous hard slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person, a snowmobile or by the release of a wind slab avalanche. These very dangerous slabs will have total slab depths to five feet.
Increased moisture in cold flow could produce periods of light snowfall overnight and Saturday. Temperatures on Saturday should raise into the positive single digits during the afternoon.The general avalanche hazard is Moderate. This decreasing in the rating DOES NOT indicate a significant change in stability. Slabs have gained strength making them slightly harder to trigger and significantly harder to predict. Backcountry travelers still have the potential to trigger hard slabs to four feet in depth in wind loaded avalanche terrain above 7500 feet. On North facing slopes above 9000 feet these slabs could step down to weak snow at the base of the snowpack to total depths of five feet.
