Olympics

Until we have a slab in the Olympics, the avalanche danger is minimal. On slopes approaching 40 degrees be wary of the potential for shallow loose snow avalanches that destabilize you on your descent.

About 8-10" of low-density snow with several potential weaknesses sits above a crust, but until it gets some weight on it and forms a slab, there is minimal potential for a slab avalanche. Slab formation could take the form of wind loading, warming, or more significant precipitation. We don't expect any of these factors to arrive on Friday. However, we'll be carefully evaluating the snowpack heading into the weekend as increasing snow accumulations and winds are likely to form slabs and elevate danger.

The upper snowpack consists of 8-10" of snow above a crust. But within that 8-10" of snow, you may find a layer of surface hoar (buried 2/16) around 2-3" below the snow surface on shaded aspects. This was replaced by a warming crust on W-S-E aspects. A second layer of weak snow formed just above the 2/7 crust from a 1/2" of snow that fell 2/9 and underwent faceting and surface hoar formation with several clear nights. This layer was buried on 2/13. This layer is also believed to have been mostly eliminated on all but NW-N-NE aspects. We'd be especially interested to hear if you encounter these weaknesses and where.

While snow now exists on all aspects, it's only about 3" above bare ground on S-facing slopes. ONP rangers hit bare ground multiple times while riding on Thursday. Ride carefully and slowly until we have more snow on the ground.