The cold temps have definitely weakened the snowpack. In thinner areas punching through to ground is not uncommon. Winds will increase on Saturday so watch for new windslabs to develop in open areas.
Wind slabs are expected in terrain along ridgelines and in gullied areas. Feel for that drummy or hollow snowpack under your feet. This is an indication of a windslab.
Loose dry avalanches within the upper snowpack in steep terrain.
A sz 2 slide was triggered in the Super slope area on a S aspects in a cross loaded feature. Luckily there was only lost gear and no injuries.
One sz 2 slab was observed on an east aspect at 2400m below a cliff face. The trigger for the slide was likely sluffing from steeper overhead terrain. Numerous loose dry slides were also seen up to sz 1.
5-8cm of new snow over the past few days has done little to change the overall avalanche danger. Winds have been light but there is pockets of windslabs along ridgelines and in crossloaded gully features that were cracking with skier traffic.
The cold temps are only making the weak base weaker. Unfortunately this will likely remain with us for the season....
The new snow is likely to sluff easily in steeper terrain. This is of particular importance to ice climbers who are often in steep gullies.
Temperatures will warm up on Saturday into the -12C range. As it warms though, winds will also increase into the moderate range out of the NW. No new snow is expected but there looks to be some coming later in the week.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
