Banner Summit

Avalanches are unlikely, and most slopes are safe. Watch for small, isolated wind drifts in upper elevation and alpine terrain. 

The snowpack in the Banner Summit Zone is the deepest of any of our areas. A thick, well-bonded slab of snow makes up the majority of the snowpack here and the area lacks a clearly defined avalanche problem. Up to an inch of snow fell in this zone on Saturday, accompanied by variable winds blowing out of the north and west. South of this zone, observers in the Smoky and Boulder Mountains reported that very small, isolated wind drifts that formed from this new snow were sensitive to their weight. Similar drifts may exist here. Despite the below-average amount of snowfall this zone has received, a number of intense wind events have helped to build large cornices in this zone. These unpredictable giants deform and sag during the heat of the day, eventually becoming unrooted from the ridgelines they are perched on. Be alert to the hazard they pose if you traveling below them and on ridgelines that are capped with them.

CONTINUE TO USE NORMAL CAUTIONThe potential for avalanches only truly goes to zero once the entire snowpack has melted. In light of that, continue to exercise caution when traveling in the backcountry. What does normal caution look like?

• Make a solid plan before a day in the backcountry. A plan helps you anticipate hazards (of which avalanches are only one), identify options for the day, and ensure everyone is prepared for an emergency.
• Perform a trailhead gear check. A proper beacon check ensures everyone's transceiver can send and receive a signal. Maybe you could use a brush-up on your beacon skills? Don't forget about the Baker Creek beacon park. Is everyone's radio working and on the right channel? Airbags armed and in working order?
• Maintain situational awareness. Don't let your guard down even when the snowpack is generally stable. If you see a wind-loaded slope or another indicator of potential instability, don't assume it's safe just because the danger is Low. Identify and avoid other hazards such as large cornices. 
• Communicate with your partners. As you travel through the mountains talk with your partners. Are you seeing what you were expecting to see when you made your plan in the morning or are conditions different than you thought that they would be? Do you need to adjust your plan accordingly?
• Continue to use safe travel practices. It's easy to get sloppy with your travel practices during periods of stability. Continue to minimize your group's exposure to potential avalanche hazards, ideally traveling one at a time through steep terrain.