Choose mellow terrain that is sheltered from the wind.
Uncertainty about a persistent weak layer requires careful terrain selection.
Remote-triggered avalanches have failed on this layer on Friday and Saturday. It is most likely to be a problem on north through east slopes between 1700 and 2300 m. Most activity has been in the east of the forecast area.
Fresh snow may need more time to settle and stabilize. Expect slabs to be deeper and more reactive on leeward slopes due to recent south through west wind.
Expect to find 30 to 80 cm of settling snow in sheltered areas and wind slabs on lee slopes below peaks and ridgelines. On sun-affected slopes, the recent snow covers a melt-and-freeze crust.
A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and/or surface hoar is buried 60 to 120 cm. It is most likely to be a problem on north through east aspects between 1700 to 2300 m.
Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.
On Friday, a very large avalanche was remotely triggered on the early December layer at 2250 m on an east-facing slope on London Ridge. See the photo below for link to the report.
On Saturday, another large avalanche was remotely triggered on the early December layer at 2280 m on a north-facing slope west of Meadow Creek.
Otherwise, numerous small to large (up to size 2) natural and rider-triggered avalanches were reported in the recent snow, especially in steep terrain.
Sunday night
Partly cloudy with flurries, trace to 5 cm of snow. Light variable wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with flurries, 2-5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with flurries, 2-5 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
