Wind seems to have gotten everywhere and spoiled our riding for the time being, but if you are getting out, avoid fat wind loaded features and please let us know what you're seeing when you get home via the Mountain Information Network.
Winds have been light and variable since Monday, and any wind slabs formed previous to that are likely growing quite stubborn as they age in the frigid air. We don't think there is much snow available to be formed into fresh wind slabs, but recent observations are slim.
This layer is becoming more deeply buried and somewhat harder to trigger. But it would likely result in a large avalanche if you tickle it from the wrong spot. Most likely trigger points are areas where the snowpack is shallow or variable so avoid fat to thin transitions and stick to places where the snowpack is deep. Remote triggering is possible and a cornice fall or surface avalanche could set off a deeper slide so be aware of your overhead exposure.
Still cold for the foreseeable future.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Overnight low temperature around -32, winds are expected to be light to moderate northwest, no snow expected.
THURSDAY: Clear skies, daytime high temperature around -24, light variable wind, no snow expected.
FRIDAY: Broken cloud cover, daytime high temperature around -18, moderate west/southwest wind, a few cm of snow possible.
SATURDAY: Scattered cloud cover, daytime high temperature around -18, light west/northwest wind, no snow expected.
No recent avalanche observations have been reported.
Several avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on south facing aspects Monday, the result of last weekend's strong north wind event.
On December 1, a size 2.5 avalanche was remotely triggered by a recreational group on Log Cabin. This avalanche likely failed on the weak, sugary snow at the bottom of the snowpack.
Triggering the deep layer (see the December 1 avalanche described above) is most likely to occur in shallow areas or where the snowpack variable in depth with a mix of shallow and deep zones.
Northerly winds have gotten into almost all the terrain of the White Pass, even down into the trees at lower elevations which has resulted in quite a bit of wind slab development on south facing features. Big thanks to the party who submitted this MIN on Sunday! Lots of shooting cracks were observed as they were out in the Fraser Chutes Sunday. It is getting pretty hard to find snow that is not wind effected.
The middle snowpack is supportive to travel but snow depth still varies greatly with aspect and elevation.
A layer of weak, sugary snow at the base of the snowpack has been observed in most areas. This layer was reactive earlier in December, and it might still be possible to trigger this deeply buried layer in shallow snowpack areas or if a cornice fall or surface avalanche impacts a slope. If triggered, this basal layer could produce large avalanches. This sugary layer will likely become weaker in the coming days with cold temperatures potentially making it increasingly sensitive to triggering.
