Good quality turns can be found in sheltered locations. Forecast inversion and solar input could increase sensitivity of avalanche problems Thursday.
Incremental new snow from Monday and previous strong to extreme SW winds added to wind slab development specific alpine and tree line features. Watch out for hollow sounding snow where a hard wind slab sits over weak facets.
The slab problem overlies different layers depending on elevation and aspect. Lower elevations has a rain crust 40-60cm down with weak facets on top reacting to tests. Above 1950m, a buried facet layer down 40-50cm is the primary concern.
Thursday
Mostly sunny.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -7 C.
Ridge wind west: 15 km/hr.
Freezing level valley bottom.
Friday
Mostly cloudy.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -11 C, High -9 C.
Ridge wind light west.
Freezing level valley bottom.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -12 C, High -9 C
Widespread wind effect and stripping in alpine from previous strong to extreme SW winds. Wind slab in specific areas tree line and above. Thin sun crust on steep solar aspects up to ~2300m. The midpack is mostly supportive. Weak facet layer down ~20-30cm and a crust down 40-60cm below 1950m, faceting but still reactive in snowpit tests.
Patrol and tour south end of Churchill range noted no new avalanche activity.
