Apr 9, 2025 3 min read Powder Highway Backcountry Conditions Report

A Strong Finish

After the late March warm-up, and ensuing precipitation, a ridge of high pressure established itself over the Powder Highway region; fortunately the storm system went out cold and deposited 20-30cm of storm snow above 1700m. The late March warm up and rain event caused a significant avalanche cycle and stressed the snowpack enough that stability improved significantly during the first week of April when temperatures cooled off.

This proved to be a perfect time for a quick ski accessed basecamp in the Valhallas. The unsettled weather was pushed out by a cold front that facetted the recent storm snow and pressed/scoured northerly aspects. We found dry snow on solar aspects above 1800m and to 1400m on north aspects on April 3.

Temperatures rose steadily over the course of our camp, which lead to an early departure on April 6th due to a weak overnight recovery. However between April 3-6, we enjoyed great skiing on all aspects with settled powder on norths and corn on south aspects. We observed wet loose avalanches on solar aspects to size two with day time warming and solar input and one size 3.5 glide slab on a W-S aspect rock slab feature. There were several glide slab avalanches reported in the region that occurred during the intense solar input on April 5.

Snowpack Concerns

Cornice It is cornice season, they are large and looming. Heads up with daytime warming and new precipitation inputs. These large loads could trigger deep persistent slabs.

Wet Loose, Wet Slabs Solar input is intense at this time of year, it will trigger wet loose, wet slab avalanches when it hits solar aspects.

Glide Slabs Smooth surfaces where the entire snowpack can glide down them are places to avoid during intense warming or if there are glide cracks present. Glide slabs are erratic and can happen anytime, especially when there may be free water lubricating the surface below the snowpack. These can be large and destructive avalanches; its better avoid exposing yourself to these events, as they would most likely be unsurvivable.

Storm Slabs As we get new precipitation watch out for storm slabs or wind slabs where there may be a poor bond between the storm island and the substrate; or where wind has deposited snow into lee features.

Outlook

More unsettled weather is on its way followed by a clearing trend. Generally, spring has sprung and a diurnal mindset should be employed with caution surrounding solar slopes and cornices as daytime temperatures rise. Convective activity in the afternoons is often predictable with daytime warming.

That's a Wrap

This will be the last update for the season as we're heading to Norway for the remainder of the spring. Thanks for your readership this winter and we'll see you next year.

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