Make conservative terrain choices. Storm snow may remain reactive to human triggering at higher elevations.
Reduce your exposure to avalanche terrain if the temperature is above 0°C.
The greatest reactivity may be found in wind-loaded areas where slabs overlie surface hoar. Consider the potential for remotely-triggering slopes above and adjacent to you.
On Sunday in Pine Pass, a natural size 1 wind slab was observed on a northeast aspect in the alpine. A second-hand report of skier-triggered size 2 was also reported. This avalanche occurred on the peak above the T-bar at Powder King. Read this MIN report for full details.
Human-triggered avalanches remain likely at higher elevations.
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Strong winds have likely stripped available snow from south and west-facing slopes, redistributing it onto north and east-facing terrain features.
A layer of surface hoar can be found around 30-50 cm deep. This is most concerning in wind-loaded features.
A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found just above the ground. The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. Average snowpack depths at treeline range from 65 to 90 cm.
Monday night
A mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation. Alpine wind 40 to 60 km/h from the west. Treeline temperatures around -7 C.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with no precipitation. Alpine wind 50 to 100 km/h from the southwest. Treeline temperatures around -1 C with the potential for an above freezing layer to develop in the alpine.
Wednesday
Cloudy with a mix of rain and snow at lower elevations, up to 5 cm of new snow accumulation above 1000 meters. Alpine wind 60 to 100 km/h. Treeline temperatures around -2 C.
Thursday
Mainly clear. Alpine wind 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperatures around -6 C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
