We continue to see large cornice failures up to Sz 3. Select your route carefully to avoid exposure to cornices.
Fresh cornice falls were observed on Tuesday and then again on Thursday in the Churchill Range. This could be the result of strong solar input, fresh winds and new snow and the cold temperatures making them brittle.
Friday will be cloudy with scattered flurries accumulating 5cm of snow. Temperatures are gradually warming with a high of -9. Winds will be light and freezing levels remain at valley bottom. Saturday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Temperature will reach up to -7 in the alpine and freezing levels remain at valley bottom.
Previous moderate north winds have created isolated wind slabs and reverse loading in wind prone areas. Marmot ski area reports these new slabs are bonding well to the previous surface. On solar aspects a 3cm sun crust exist up to 2400m under 10-15cm of snow. Likewise a 5cm melt-freeze crust exists up to 2200m on all aspects down 10cm.
Cornice triggered size 2 wind slab observed on Pyramid Wednesday - south patrol noted no new activity. On Tuesday and Thursday two natural cornice falls were observed on the Churchill range. These cornices did not trigger slabs below. Also a small natural wind slab was observed around the Parker Ridge Area.
