Moderate hazard is not a green light. At the mid and upper elevations, small to large wind slabs could be triggered by backcountry travelers venturing into steep, wind-loaded avalanche prone terrain. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, may be needed to initiate these slabs. Although unlikely, the possibility of deeper slabs failing on or stepping down to October snow might remain. Recent precipitation was mainly in the form of rain at the lower elevations, and the shallow snowpack is mostly stable.
Around two feet of snow containing over two inches of snow water equivalent fell at the end of the week. Strong southwesterly to northwesterly ridgetop winds accompanied this snowfall forming dense wind slabs on leeward slopes. In steep, wind-loaded avalanche terrain above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs ranging in depth from one to three feet.
Pacific moisture in a southwest flow will move into the region on Monday. This system will begin with snow in the mountains and a mix of rain and snow at the lower elevations. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 9,000 feet and LOW below that elevation. At the upper elevations pockets of wind slab 6 to 18 inches in depth could be triggered skiers or riders in very steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones, steep couloirs and cliff areas. Deeper slabs with depths to three feet could be human triggered in isolated terrain features, especially by larger triggers such as snow machines.
