Carefully assess the wind slab hazard as you gain elevation. Limit exposure to slopes with cornices above.
New wind slabs will likely be found in exposed treeline and alpine terrain. Winds have varied in direction over the past couple days so watch for wind slab on all aspects. These new slabs likely won't bond well to the underlying surfaces.
Cornices may be weak and reactive to human triggers. Give them a wide berth when travelling on ridges. They are a significant hazard alone and may produce large slab avalanches as they fall onto the slope below. Cornice falls are more likely when the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.
wet loose avalanches will likely occur in steep terrain as the sun comes out.
Tuesday night: Flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow with moderate west winds shifting to light north. Low of -7 at 1600 m.
WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected. Light southeast winds and freezing levels rising to 1800 m.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow with light southeast winds. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow with light northwest winds. Freezing level around 2100 m.
Avalanche activity the last week has primarily been large cornice failures on north and east-facing slopes. For the most part, these have not triggered avalanches on the slopes below.
15 to 30 cm of new snow overlies a variety of surfaces including old wind effected surfaces, facets and a crust on solar aspects. Below this a melt-freeze crust can be found on all aspects down 20 to 40 cm to 2000 m and mountain tops on solar aspects. Moist snow will likely be observed on solar aspects as the sun comes out.
Another prominent crust layer is found 30-70 cm deep.
Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy. The snowpack deteriorates rapidly at lower elevations.
