Choose mellow terrain and constantly assess the bond of the new snow to the old surface.
Reactive slabs exist. Slabs will likely be deeper and easier to trigger in wind-affected terrain. With recent shifting winds, be sure to assess all slopes for slabs.
A small (size 1) slab was triggered remotely on Saturday, running far on the buried weak crystals and melt-freeze crust. These riders felt a whumpf when approaching the steep slope.
On Sunday we expect slabs will remain reactive to human-triggering. Watch for deeper, touchier deposits in wind-affected terrain, especially as winds increase in the afternoon.
If you do go into the backcountry, please submit a MIN report.
In most areas, 15 to 30 cm of new snow has buried a layer of weak, feathery crystals. Expect this new snow to have formed reactive slabs.
New snow covers firm surfaces from wind in wind-affected areas or 10 to 30 cm of settled dry snow in sheltered areas. Below this, there is a thick and hard melt-freeze crust extending up to approximately 1700 m. The crust was at the snow surface at lower elevations.
The middle of the snowpack may contain old, weak faceted layers and hard crusts, which do not currently present a concern.
Saturday Night
A few clouds. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Sunday
A few clouds. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind, increasing to 30 to 40km/h northwest in the afternoon. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. 40 to 50 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 500 m, with warm air aloft between 1500 m and 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
