Spring-time showers in the valley translate to fluffy powder in the high Alpine. The latest stormy weather dropped 20-25cm of snow at and above Tree-line, but was also accompanied by gusty winds.
Fresh wind slabs in lee features will need to be evaluated before you drop into your line, especially where they overlie a crust!
Strong gusty winds and fresh snow have created a new windslab problem. Expect to find this problem most reactive in the lee sides of ridges or in cross loaded terrain in the alpine.
Periods of intense sun will activate these slabs on solar aspects.
A field team in the Fidelity zone was able to ski-control several dry/loose sz 1 avalanches on N aspects, as well as ski-cut a wind slab on an E aspect.
The field team also was able to ski-control wet/loose avalanches to sz 2 on solar aspects steeper than 35°.
There were a few small loose snow avalanches from rocky/extreme terrain in the last couple days, including human-triggered from S aspects on the Swiss Peaks.
20-25cm of new snow and gusty SW winds have created wind slabs in upper elevation lee features. These slabs sit atop a series of crusts on all aspects except high north faces, where they overlie dry snow.
The Feb 3rd crust, down ~110cm, is the dominant mid-pack layer and still produces isolated planar results when tested.
Below tree-line, the snowpack has gone through many melt-freeze cycles, and is in spring conditions. Travel is rough at lower elevations.
The upper ridge will hold for Tues, then breaks down to scattered, light flurries on Wed.
Tonight: Clear with cloudy periods, Alp low -2°C, light ridgetop winds.
Tues: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high 3°C, light SW winds, FZL rising to 2400m.
Wed: Increasing clouds and flurries, 5-10cm, Alp high 1°C, gusty mod SW winds, 2100m FZL.
Thurs: Flurries, 5-10cm, Alp high -1°C, light SW winds, 1900m FZL.
