Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: NW 10-15 G 25 Temp 22˚ F

That was a bit underwhelming. The storm has moved on leaving about 4" of snow in the mountains, the last we'll see for awhile as high pressure builds over the region. Today, look for sunny skies, breezy NW winds, and high temps in the upper 20's. Dry, sunny, and warmer conditions will continue for the next several days. Don't abandon all hope however, things to look to get more active again late next week so enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures while we have them.

Yet another refresh should make for good turning and riding conditions up there today. The fly in the ointment will be the pesky NW winds. They shouldn't be too out of hand but they'll likely affect the snow surface on more exposed slopes. The snowpack is starting to feel supportive which has really helped riding conditions, but step off your skis or sled, and you still punch through almost to the ground, especially on northerly aspects. What this means is that a cohesive slab exists on top of very weak, faceted snow underneath. Throughout our travels this week, Dave and I continued to experience collapsing of the snowpack on a variety of aspects and elevations. This indicates that the poor structure is widespread, and that it remains sensitive to the weight of a skier or rider. Human triggered avalanches up to 2' deep are likely on steep slopes facing W-N-E-SE. On steep, wind loaded, northerly aspects dangerous, unsurvivable avalanches up to 6' deep are possible.

Check out the video below Dave made of his tour on Tuesday up Noriega's Ridge where he continued to find very weak snow.