Look for soft snow in sheltered terrain. Watch for reactive pockets around ridgelines and steep rolls as you move into more exposed and alpine-like terrain.
Watch for reactive pockets around ridgecrest and steep rolls. Consider cross-loaded slopes as you move into more exposed and alpine-like features.
Over the weekend, several small rider- and explosives-triggered avalanches were reported in the recent snow in alpine and treeline terrain.
Alpine terrain is wind-affected, while sheltered areas have settling snow from recent storms.
A layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or crusts buried in early December is 50-70 cm deep. No avalanches have been reported on this layer since December 19 and it's possible that the recent mild temperatures helped it bond to the rest of the snowpack.
The lower snowpack is strong and settled south of Highway 1, and potentially weaker and more faceted north of Highway 1.
Treeline snow depths vary from 90-150 cm.
Monday night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with sunny breaks. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 5 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
