The best quality, safest riding will be where you're high up enough to find dry snow, sheltered enough that it isn't destroyed by wind, and lucky enough to find 25 cm instead of 5. The hunt is on!
A variable 5-25 cm of recent snow has been heavily redistributed by strong south winds in the alpine. Make observations of new snow depth and reactivity to determine the extent of wind slab problems on the local scale.
With the wet avalanche cycle from the early part of the week finished, there is some uncertainty about the amount and reactivity of snow that accumulated in the high alpine through Thursday night. Any wind slabs formed with this new snow are our only real avalanche concerns over the near term.
A variable 5-25 cm of wind-redistributed new snow can be found in the alpine in the region, with amounts tapering rapidly at treeline.
New snow that hasn't already blown away overlies a crust that is becoming thicker and more supportive by the day. This crust is otherwise on the surface, gradually forming a frozen lid over the the rain-soaked upper 30-60 cm of the snowpack.
The mid and lower snowpack consists of variable layers of crusts and faceted snow.
Overall the snowpack remains unusually shallow.
Friday night
Cloudy with continuing wet flurries and a final trace of new snow above 1500 m. Southwest alpine winds 10 to 15 km/h, easing.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Variable alpine winds shifting northeast, 0-5 km/h. Treeline temperature -3°C with freezing level around 1400 m.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Northeast alpine wind 5-15 km/h. Treeline temperature -5°C with freezing level around 900 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Less than 5 cm accumulating over the past 3 days. East or northeast alpine winds 10-15 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 with freezing level around 900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
