Benign weather is consolidating and strengthening the upper snowpack forming generally safe conditions. Upper elevation wind slabs are identified by shooting cracks or collapses. LOW danger doesn’t mean NO danger. Use safe travel protocols including only exposing one person to a slope at a time.

Continued benign weather is allowing the upper snowpack to consolidate and gain strength. Lingering wind slabs remain a concern on isolated, leeward slopes at upper elevations. Pockets of unstable snow can be identified by shooting cracks or audible collapses. The best riding conditions and safest conditions exist on wind-sheltered slopes.

Continued benign weather is allowing the upper snowpack to consolidate and gain strength. Lingering wind slabs remain a concern on isolated, leeward slopes at upper elevations. Pockets of unstable snow can be identified by shooting cracks or audible collapses. The best riding conditions and safest conditions exist on wind-sheltered slopes.

Wind slabs still linger in lee features at higher elevations.  Watch for signs of locally unstable snow, such as whumping and shooting cracks.  Wind sheltered terrain offers the safest snow and best riding conditions.

Last weekend's storm left slabs up to several feet thick that can be human triggered on some slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  Be especially cautious of wind-loaded terrain features. Shooting cracks and collapses are warning signs of unstable snow.    

Last weekend's storm left slabs up to several feet thick that can be human triggered on some slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  Be especially cautious of wind-loaded terrain features. Shooting cracks and collapses are warning signs of unstable snow.    

The blizzard ended leaving thick wind slabs on atypical aspects. Storm slabs exist at all elevations but are becoming stubborn to trigger. The avalanche danger is trending down but it remains important to carefully assess recent wind slabs and storm slabs before committing to a slope. 

Yesterday's heavy snowfall tapered overnight but dangerous avalanche conditions remain. Thick storm slabs can be found on all aspects at all elevations. Gusty east winds are forming wind slabs several feet thick on atypical aspects. Loading is stressing deeply buried weak layers in our snowpack which may result in very large avalanches. Conservative terrain selection is advised while we let our snowpack adjust to this heavy loading event.

Yesterday's heavy snowfall tapered overnight but dangerous avalanche conditions remain. Thick storm slabs can be found on all aspects at all elevations. Gusty east winds are forming wind slabs several feet thick on atypical aspects. Loading is stressing deeply buried weak layers in our snowpack which may result in very large avalanches. Conservative terrain selection is advised while we let our snowpack adjust to this heavy loading event.

An Avalanche Warning is in effect. Today, the avalanche danger starts out as CONSIDERABLE but is expected to rise to HIGH later today or tonight. Heavy snow, accompanied by southwest winds, will thicken storm slabs on a weak surface. Heavy loading may reawaken deeply buried weak layers in our snowpack resulting in very large avalanches. Expect dangerous avalanche conditions to develop as the storm intensifies.  Travel in and below avalanche terrain is not recommended.

An Avalanche Watch is in effect. Dangerous conditions exist due to thickening storm slabs formed on a weak surface. Expect danger to rise as a series of potent storms move into the region with abundant snowfall and increasing winds. Given the widespread distribution of reactive storm slabs it is important to choose conservative, low angle terrain to ski or ride in, and avoid lingering in run-out zones. 

An Avalanche Watch is in effect. Dangerous conditions exist due to thickening storm slabs formed on a weak surface. Expect danger to rise as a series of potent storms move into the region with abundant snowfall and increasing winds. Given the widespread distribution of reactive storm slabs it is important to choose conservative, low angle terrain to ski or ride in, and avoid lingering in run-out zones. 

Over 1 foot of snow formed sensitive storm slabs. Avalanches will be easy to trigger and can run far on a slick crust in steep terrain. They could fail naturally with wind-loading. Cracking snow or recent avalanche activity are signs to stay on low angle terrain.

The avalanche danger will begin to increase today and rise to CONSIDERABLE overnight.  Watch for shallow storm instabilities to develop, especially in wind loaded or snowfall favored areas.  Thicker, older slabs remain a stubborn but consequential problem at high elevations.