Lots of wind effect out there, but good riding can still be found in sheltered locations. Remember to consider the persistent layers beneath your feet!
Recent winds have created windslabs in the alpine and some treeline locations. These slabs are now 3-4 days old and we expect their sensitivity to decrease however they may be more reactive where they overly facets.
This problem represents both the Dec. 2nd crust/ facet layer (treeline and below) and layers of faceted snow that were formed during the late December cold snap (all elevations). If triggered, either layer could result in large avalanches.
A relatively benign period of weather over the next few days as we are under the influence of a high pressure system. Temperatues will be in the -5 to -15 range Tues/Wed with a drop in temperature on Thursday morning to ~ -20. Alpine winds will switch to SW and increase to moderate to strong for Tues/ Wed before decreasing on Thurs. No precip.
Wind effect and wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree-line areas. New suncrusts steep solar. 20 to 40 cm of recent snow lies over a facet interface formed in late December. The Dec2 crust and facets are generally 60-100cm deep and continue to produce results in snowpack tests. Some thin snowpack areas have lingering basal depth hoar and facets.
One small windslab was noted on a field trip in Little Yoho today. A size 1 triggered by sluffing out of steep alpine terrain. Otherwise, no new avalanches observed or reported on Monday
