I was up
Mid-day a blustery squall blew through with 2 cm./hr snowfall and strong gusty westerly winds. I stayed well below treeline and still you could see wind affect in exposed openings – this was forming soft slabs that I am sure would be quite a bit more significant at Treeline and above elevations.
Snowpack was @ 80cms, at the car and closer to 150 cms. once you climb above the road. Generally 40-60cm. of snow over the old facetted interface from Christmas and where the wind got at things there were soft slabs up to 20cms thick.
Looks like the long awaited slab has begun to form over this older weak surface – so I would be leary playing with anything that has been stiffened by yesterday wind events as this seemed to be the once ingredient of a slab avalanche that we have been missing since this layer began to be buried. In other words things changed out there yesterday.
Play safe and enjoy many New Years to come,
Scott Davis
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide