Low hazard doesn't mean no hazard. Still check your line for wind slab and watch for signs of warming on sun-exposed slopes when the sun feels strong.
Previous wind events have loaded dense wind slab over a weak layer of surface hoar. Recent warm temperatures have likely promoted bonding of this layer and there is uncertainty around whether it is still sensitive to triggering.
Friday night: Clear. Moderate to strong northwest wind. Freezing level valley bottom.
Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud. Strong northwest wind. Freezing level 1100 m.
Sunday: 5-10 cm new snow. Wind easing to light, variable. Freezing level 900 m.
Monday: Scattered flurries. Light northeast wind. Freezing level 900 m.
Loose wet avalanche activity on steep solar aspects was observed into Thursday. A few cornice failures were observed Wednesday but did not trigger slabs. Lingering wind slabs and buried weak layers are still possible to be triggered by riders.
If you decide to travel in the backcountry, consider sharing your observations with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN) to supplement our data stream as operators are shutting down. Even just a photo of what the day looked like would be helpful.
Wind has varied in direction, meaning that wind slabs may be found on all aspects, particularly in steep terrain adjacent to ridges.
A weak layer of surface hoar crystals buried early March may be found around 40 cm deep. Wind slabs sitting over this layer have been sensitive to human triggering at treeline elevations.
An early-season layer of faceted grains and melt-freeze crust near the base of the snowpack may linger. The most suspect locations to trigger this layer would be where the snowpack is thin near rocky outcrops. A large load, such as a cornice fall, also has the potential of triggering it. With cooling temperatures and increased cloud cover over the next few days, deep persistent avalanches on these layers are unlikely.
