The natural avalanche cycle is mostly over, however human triggered avalanches remain likely in the alpine and open slopes at treeline. This is evident by the many close calls with skier triggered avalanches in the past week. Conservative decision making and terrain choices are essential.
Recent winds have created some fresh windslabs in lee alpine terrain and open slopes at treeline. Many of these windslabs are now buried by Sunday nights storm snow.
40-80 cm of settled snow overlies weak facets above the Feb 3 interface which is a crust in most areas. Many natural, human, and explosive-triggered avalanches have occurred on this layer in the past week and human triggering of this persistent weak layer remains likely in many areas.
Some recent avalanches have stepped down to the weak facet and depth hoar layers near the base of the snowpack resulting in large avalanches. This seems to be most common in thin, steep, rocky terrain in the alpine. Continue to treat large alpine features with caution.
Many natural and skier triggered avalanches have occurred since Friday:
Friday: A skier accidental avalanche occurred in Wizard Chutes near Sunshine. Natural avalanches reported from Pulpit area
Saturday: Several naturals were reported from Crowfoot Glades area.
Monday: A natural avalanche (small windslab or loose dry) overran and injured a skier on one of the east facing couloirs on Bow Peak. The skier was injured but not buried.
15-20 cm of storm snow overlays previous wind slabs (alpine and treeline), temp crusts at lower elevations, and sun crusts on steep solar aspect.
40-80 cm of settled snow overlies weak facets above the Feb 3 crust interface which exists up to 2500 m, (higher on solar aspects). Many recent avalanches have been running on this layer.
The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets. Deeper snowpack areas (west of the divide) are more settled and stronger.
Tuesday will be mainly cloudy with some scattered flurries, but minimal accumulation. Ridgetop winds are forecast to be 20-30 k/h and freezing levels will rise to 1900m during the day. Wednesday will be very similar.
For more detailed weather information, click here.
