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
Considerable (3)
Wind slabs continue to build and are reactive to human triggering. Natural activity may increase with sun, be extra aware of overhead hazard including cornices.
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
30 to 50 cm of snow fell over the weekend. Generally, sheltered snow quality has been excellent, with wind redistribution occurring near ridgetops.
This recent snow is bonding poorly to an underlying weak layer formed during the January drought. Depending on aspect and elevation, the layer may exist as a hard crust, faceted grains and/or surface hoar.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and bonded with no other layers of concern.
Avalanche Activity
There was a report of a large (size 2) natural slab that released on Tuesday on a solar slope.
Explosive control in the Duffey area recently produced several large (size 2-2.5) wind slab avalanches on Sunday.
These are failing at the crust or facet layer that currently exists beneath the storm snow.