For the best riding seek out sheltered slopes with the deepest snowpack that hasn't been wind-affected. Be extra cautious at treeline and higher elevations on the downwind side of ridges and rib features.
With minimal new snow expected, the wind slab problem should be confined to isolated pockets on the lee side of ridges or ribs. However, with the sugary-faceted-weak snowpack avalanches could potentially step down to the middle of the snowpack.
No new reports since the weekend. Keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering.
In deeper zones near ridges the snowpack is around 120 to 170 cm, which is low for early December. Alpine terrain in windy areas is scoured and bare.
Surface: Boot top powder in deep areas. Same old crusts, facets, and rocks on wind scoured slopes.Upper-pack: In sheltered areas below the fresh snow is well developed surface hoar. Generally there's 40 to 70 cm of low density and faceting (aka weak) snow in the upper pack.Mid-pack: November crust, with a layer of soft facets above. This is the primary weak layer, found pretty much halfway down.Lower-pack: a mixture of old crusts and facets but some suggestions that these layers are a bit harder or stronger than what's found in other regions (e.g. Duffy or Hurley).
Friday NightIncoming system bringing just a few cm of snow overnight and moderate southerly wind. Temperatures around -5 to -10 C at treeline and higher elevations.
SaturdayA few more cm of snow. Steady temps around -5 C up in the mountains. Freezing level rising to near 1500 m. Moderate southerly winds.
SundayDry to possibly a few cm of snow. Light wind from the north. Steady temps around -5 C and colder at treeline. Freezing level lowering to around 1000m Mostly cloudy.
MondayClearing. Dry. Temps cooler at around -10 C at treeline. Light northerly wind.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
