From today's avalanche forecast:
Quote:
|
The primary issues with areas posted at Moderate and Considerable are the thin touchy slabs that we discussed yesterday. Cold temperatures are slowing the settlement of these slabs which is keeping them lively. The Lip and Sluice are the areas of most concern right now. As we move into the evening hours winds will pick up to 50 to 70 mph (80 to 112 kph) and remain out of the west. Snow showers will intensify and may give us a couple of inches (5 cm) of snow. This is very similar to the events that have been causing instability this week. Don't underestimate the effect of 2" of snow on our stability. The forecasted winds are perfect for whipping 2" of snow into problematic slabs.
|
What they are not being explicit about is the increasing winds leading to strong over weak layering.
Right now I suspect the mountain does not have a pervasive icy base so by the time the weekend rolls around we will most likely be looking at a couple of thin, somewhat hard slab layers on top of weaker layers, probably mainly deposited on top of of last wednesday's hard slab surface. Thin surface slabs are pretty much the textbook skier-triggered slide...
Areas rated moderate or above don't look like a good place to be this weekend. (Are likely to be at the upper end of that rating.)
Opinions ... ?
Linear Mode
