Avalanche Forecast

Avalanche Forecasts are for use by experienced backcountry travelers in uncontrolled sidecountry and backcountry terrain. These forecasts and conditions do not apply to open, in-bounds terrain at ski resorts, which is subject to avalanche control by local resort ski patrol.

Avalanche Rating

Moderate (2)

Valid Tue Dec 10 4:00pm PST 12 hours ago Until Wed Dec 11 4:00pm PST

Slabs may form as the snow continues to settle. Where formed, riders could trigger them if they rest on a weak layer.

More Detail

To get the complete forecast with additional graphics and details, please view the Avalanche Canada Zone forecast provided by Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Discussion

Around 30 to 50 cm of snow accumulated last weekend and it has remained relatively cool and cloudy since then. The snow may remain soft without slab properties in some locations, but as the snow settles it may form a slab. This is particularly problematic where the snow may rest on weak surface hoar crystals in openings below treeline, at treeline elevations, and at lower alpine elevations. Otherwise, it rests on a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes and on all aspects at low elevations.

In exposed alpine terrain, westerly wind may have formed small wind slabs in lee terrain features.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong without any deeper concerns at this time.

Avalanche Activity

Monday saw some more small to large (size 1 to 2) avalanches triggered by riders and explosives. This adds to the many avalanches observed since the weekend, all generally being 20 to 60 cm in predominantly north to east alpine terrain. Many of the avalanches occurred where the snow rested on weak surface hoar crystals.

Although conditions are improving, it remains possible that riders could trigger similar avalanches going forward.