East Slopes South

Slopes holding wind drifted snow are where you might find a small avalanche on Saturday. Assess for instability before entering steep and consequential terrain with trees, rocks, or cliffs in the runout below. Anticipate challenging travel conditions on crusty or wind-hammered snow surfaces.

Look forward to another sunny day in the mountains with cold temperatures and light winds. Expect to find crusty or wind-affected snow on most aspects. High pressure is forecast to extend well into next week.

Strong winds in the last week drifted any remaining soft snow into thin slabs, especially at upper elevations. Fresh slabs should be small and isolated in distribution but easily triggered in locations where they rest over weak faceted snow or slick crust. Pay attention to changes in snow depth and texture. Use clues like scoured surfaces and cornices to figure out the wind loading pattern in the terrain around you. Pockets of winds slab should have a smooth appearance while the surrounding snow looks roughed up or jagged. Stomp on test slopes, wind lips, and other features to gauge if wind slabs are still reactive. 

The Persistent Slab avalanche problem has been removed, but weak layers still exist in the upper snowpack. Fortunately, the likelihood of triggering one is quite low. Snowpack tests have shown no propagation, and no slab avalanches or whumphing was reported in the past week in the East South forecast zone. Cold temperatures should help weaken the upper snowpack and make for higher avalanche danger when we get more snow. 

Use normal caution in all avalanche terrain even when the danger is Low. Carry avalanche rescue gear and use best-practice travel techniques. For example, only expose one person at a time to steep slopes and assess snow and terrain as you travel.

If you get out into the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting an observation here.