East Slopes North

Prepare for icy, firm surfaces in the morning and warm, wet snow in the afternoon. Wet avalanches are unlikely, but not impossible. Move off steep slopes before you sink deeply into wet snow, and limit your time immediately below cornices. 

You'll find diurnal changes in snow and weather, from cold first thing in the morning to the heat of the afternoon. Bring traction equipment, like crampons (ski/boot), to prevent an uncontrolled fall on steep, frozen slopes. The eastern aspects will soften and warm up first, and later the western aspects. The sun will even warm the northeast and northwest aspects. During this spring melt, there are still hazards to consider. While avalanches are unlikely at low danger, they're not impossible.

Cornices are very large and loom on many ridges over north through east through south aspects. Minimize your time under them, especially as temperatures warm. Cornices and snow shedding from steep rocks and cliffs could send snow down from overhead terrain. If you're sinking into the snow up to the top of your boots, it's time to move to lower-angle terrain. There's still a chance that you could trigger wet avalanches if the snow becomes unsupportive.

The snowpack in the East North Zone is robust, and it hasn't yet fully transitioned to spring. Crusts cover all surfaces, but as you look deeper, northerly aspects haven't fully transitioned to melt forms. Many slopes hold considerable snow, including on steep cliffs and rock faces. The spring "shed" avalanche cycles have barely even begun near the Cascade crest. When we do see more prolonged warm temperatures, there's still significant snow that could fall, resulting in avalanches.

Overnight on the 7th to 8th, Washington Pass experienced prolonged cold temperatures and a strong surface freeze. On the 7th, an NWAC forecaster reported firm surfaces in the morning that quickly warmed and became wet, with some areas becoming unsupportive. On east aspects around 5,000ft, they were sinking deeply into wet snow by 12p even with skis on. The nights of the 6th and 7th brought temperature inversions, with warmer temperatures at upper elevations. From the 2nd through the 5th, wet avalanches occurred on all aspects and elevations. Most were small, but WSDOT forecasters reported large (D2) wet-loose slides on easterly aspects of Liberty Bell that likely occurred on the 4th or 5th.

Snow cover is thin on southerly slopes and at low elevations. Be aware of exposed rocks and open creeks. WSDOT has begun plowing operations on Hwy 20 between Silver Star trailhead and Newhalem. The road will be closed to all traffic Monday through Thursday while workers and machinery are operating.