Higher elevations hold the best riding, but are also where triggering slabs is most likely.
Avoid being below cornices and plan to be out of avalanche terrain before the heat of the day.
Where dry snow is available for transport, northeast wind could form wind slabs over a crust in a reverse-loading pattern.
Watch for reactive slabs in unusual areas.
Surface hoar has produced large and remotely triggered avalanches, primarily on sheltered, north-facing alpine slopes in the Selkirks. On south-facing slopes, this layer may exist as a crust.
Wet loose avalanches become more likely on sun affected slopes if the surface crust breaks down.
Last week, riders got surprised by a buried surface hoar layer in the Selkirks in north-facing alpine terrain. Activity included naturally triggered slabs to size 3, and human-triggered to size 2, including remote triggers.
Cornice failures occur sporadically, and have triggered large avalanches on the slope below (size 2-3).
Loose wet avalanches (size 1-2) continue to happen on steep south-facing slopes in the afternoon.
Surface conditions vary from dry powder on high-north aspects, a crust or moist snow low down and on south-facing slopes, and hard-wind-affected snow in exposed areas.
A layer of surface hoar has been reactive in the Selkirks this week. It has been reported 30-70 cm deep, most prevalent in sheltered north-facing slopes between 2200 to 2600 m.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, with older weak layers now buried 100 to 250 cm deep. There's a chance large triggers—like cornice failures—could still release deeper layers, especially on high north-facing slopes.
Tuesday night
A mix of sun and cloud, isolated light precipitation. 20 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature drops to -5 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud, isolated light precipitation. 20 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rises to -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Thursday
Mostly clear. 10 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rises to 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rises to 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
