You Don't Need A Weatherman

We found small, but sensitive wind slabs on east-facing slopes during a days off tour in southern Glacier Park.

• Winds were moderate out of the west, building fresh drifts on easterly slopes. We stomped on several drifts at middle elevations and got easy results. Slabs were between 4 and 12" thick, 4 fingers hard, and broke on the old snow surface. We did not these slabs "step down" by triggering deeper persistent weak layers.
• We saw blowing snow at all elevations above ~5,000' on leeward aspects.
• There was about 2-4" new snow (graupel) since this morning. Light snow showers put down a little more graupel into the early afternoon.
• Areas that had previously been scoured to the ground by northerly winds had new wind slabs growing over thin crusts or faceted snow and rocks.
• We avoided open, easterly slopes where smooth, rounded drifts were growing and found good skiing in sheltered terrain down to about 5,500' where the snowpack is still pretty thin.
• Given the weather forecast for more wind and snow, we expect the avalanche danger to rise into tomorrow.