The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. Surface slabs formed by recent west winds could be triggered by backcountry travelers and could step to include older weak snow near the base of the snowpack to total depths of five feet. These slabs will be most sensitive to larger loads such as snow machines yet could be triggered by weight of a single skier or rider when a thin, weak spot of the snowpack is hit. Involvement in such a large slide is likely to result in injury or death.
Dense surface slabs one to four feet in depth lie upon slick old snow surfaces and faceted snow. These dangerous slabs could be triggered on a variety of aspects and are likely to be easily triggered by larger loads such as snowmobiles. On steep northerly aspects above 9,000 feet these slabs could step down to the ground.
Above 9000 feet on northerly aspects, weak snow persists at the base of the snowpack. In this terrain very dangerous hard slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person, a snowmobile or by the release of a wind slab avalanche. These dangerous slabs could have crown depths to five feet and if triggered are likely to carry severe consequences.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Another frigid day is in store on Friday. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the negative teens before rising into the negative single digits during the day. Cloud cover will increase ahead of an approaching short wave which could produce some light, scattered flurries during the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will back to the southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE on Friday. Backcountry travelers could trigger recently developed wind slabs up to four feet deep in steep, wind loaded terrain. While the likelihood of triggering these slides is decreasing, the consequences remain severe and being caught in a large slide path would likely be unsurvivable. Larger triggers, such as snowmobiles, may be needed to release these slides. However, skiers finding a shallow sweet point connected to deeper snow could also trigger these slides. On northerly aspects above 9,000, these slides could step down to the ground.
