Human triggered avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer are possible on upper and some mid elevation slopes. Apparently, some avalanches can step down into buried persistent weak layers, involve large volumes of snow, and be quite dangerous and destructive. The cold weather Christmas week created sugary weak surface snow in many areas, in others a layer of surface hoar feathers was buried by the New Years Storm. Recent activity in the zone shows that additional weight from tons of recent snow and significant drifting last week was enough to reactivate the deeply buried October persistent weak layer on some slopes. You can still find this weak sugary basal layer lurking on upper elevation slopes facing northwest, north and east.

• Watch for and avoid stiffer drifted snow near ridge lines and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, scoops, gully walls, and sub-ridges.
• Avoid ridge top cornices, which can break much further back than expected and start avalanches on slopes below.