Similar to yesterday, we had a morning discussion regarding whether to have a "High" or "Extreme" rating for today. What we concluded is that if we were to have put out an advisory for last night, it would have been Extreme, but right now and through today, we're left with a solid High. For anyone traveling near avalanche terrain today, the take home point is the same: we expect avalanches to happen today, and they could be large. As the definition of High danger states, TRAVELING IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. With the development of our slide paths over the past week, avalanches have the potential to run farther than any yet this season. This means you'll be in avalanche terrain earlier than you might otherwise expect. Something as simple as walking up to the floor of either ravine will put you at risk, especially given the poor visibility caused by blowing snow.

So if this is the case why not an Extreme rating you ask? Well, prior to yesterday afternoon there was a large amount of snow left sitting above treeline, due to the relative lack of wind during the last few small storms. The summit has received 24.5" (62cm) of snow since the start of February, which had uncharacteristically been allowed to settle on the upper mountain, including accumulating to 8" (20cm) on the summit observation deck. Yesterday afternoon and evening brought the latest dose of 3.1" (8cm) of snow. The observation deck has since been scoured down to icy concrete, as has a good deal of the snow that had been waiting for stronger winds to pick it up. Although a lot of the snow has already been moved, we don't expect wind loading to truly calm down until the winds drop significantly. The winds are forecasted to decrease slightly later this afternoon and evening. All things considered, it's the fact that we've probably already had numerous avalanches within this cycle that is keeping us from using the Extreme rating. The same paths can and do slide multiple times during an avalanche cycle, so it's likely we'll see avalanche activity today. Looking ahead, things will calm down a bit for tomorrow, with yet another storm on the horizon for Tuesday night. I don't know about you, but I've started carrying a full size shovel in the back of my truck. This winter is shaping up nicely!

Aside from the risk of avalanches, today is one of those days where you'll be putting your winter gear to the test. Even for traveling below treeline, you'll want to be prepared for cold temperatures and blowing snow. Drifting on trails will make travel difficult, so snowshoes or skis are highly recommended. And as always, crampons, an ice axe, and solid self arrest skills are recommended for travel in steep terrain. This includes the Lion Head Winter Route. The Sherburne Ski Trail is open with full coverage including some wind scoured sections and some wind-drifted sections.