2 cm hoar frost layer down 50 cm (1600m to ridgetop)

Quick report

Weather

windy, cloudy, foggy, stormy

Ride Type

mellowSlopes

Stayed Away

convexSlopes, openTrees, steepSlopes, alpineSlopes, cutBlocks

Riding Quality

ok

Snow Conditions

deepPowder

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSlab, avalancheConditionSound

We bailed from completing the bonnington traverse (exited via snowater creek, stopping in at the snowmobile cabin at 49.38463567 N, 117.4140215 W). Buried hoar frost layer (2017-12-16) was present from ridgetop down to 1500m and remote triggering up to Sz 2, with Sz 3 potential on any larger slopes. Ridgetop leeward aspects were especially reactive, with windloading and slab bring the big concerns (exit ridge from copper hut 2017-12-19). Travel through lower elevations 2017-12-20 saw shooting cracks / sudden collapses and remote triggering down 40 to 50cm on all unsupported slopes down to ~1500m