I was up Corbin Pass (just west of Rogers Pass)
yesterday.
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