Low snow coverage doesn't eliminate avalanche danger. A skier triggered a size 2.0 avalanche at Balu Pass yesterday.
Early season hazards abound. Expect to hit rocks, logs, and open creeks in your travels.
Another 15cm storm is forecast for tonight into tomorrow, accompanied by strong SW'ly winds.
A layer of surface hoar exists down ~30cm. Although ground roughness breaks up slope connectivity early season, expect rider-triggered avalanches to be possible on smooth open slopes.
A skier triggered a size 2.0 avalanche yesterday at Balu Pass in a wind stiffened area, and they went for a rocky ride. The avalanche was triggered from a thin area, and fractured ~30m above the rider caught. They were partially buried.
If there's enough to ride, there's enough to slide! Be sure to bring a transceiver, shovel and probe if you venture out.
There is ~120-140cms of snow on the ground in the Alpine, 80-120cm at treeline, and 20cm at the highway elevation.
A 6mm surface hoar layer is buried down ~30cm in all open areas treeline and above.
Glaciers have poor coverage with just enough snow to hide small crevasses.
The ridge breaks down, allowing the stormy Pacific low's to impact the interior again.
Tonight: Flurries, 12cm. Alpine low -2°C. Freezing level (FZL) 1700m. Ridge winds SW-45km/h. Weak temperature inversion.
Mon: Scattered flurries, 5cm. Alpine high -1°C. FZL 1900m. Winds SW 30-50km/h.
Tues: Isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Alp high -3°C, low -7°C. FZL 1600m. Wind SW-15 gusting 40km/h.
