Lawinenlagebericht

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
Keine Stufe
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Kernpunkte

Slab avalanches are possible today around the compass at upper elevations, while loose snow ones will likely occur on sunny steeper slopes.  Look for wind-drifted stiffer snow near ridgelines and feel for the bond between the new snow and the stout crust below it. If you see rollerballs or find snow moving on the crust, move to low-angled slopes.  

Today could be on the low or the high end of Moderate danger, largely depending on warming.  

Lower elevations have no rating due to the lack of a snowpack.

This forecast is sponsored by Robert Brooks Painting of La Grande.  

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    6-10 inch thick slabs will be easy to find today, primarily at upper elevations. With time, your likelihood of triggering these is decreasing, but a report of easily-triggered avalanches yesterday (4/2 Elkhorns) is bullseye information on the problem. 

    A report of wind-blown snow near ridgelines in the Mccully Basin (N Wallowas) yesterday should also key you in to windslabs in the Wallowas.  These could be 1-2 feet thick.

    Use hand shears (or Mitt Pits, thanks Karen) and inconsequential test slopes to check out the bond of the new snow to the crust. Look for shooting cracks or stiffer snow that suddenly supports you or your machine. Move to low-angle terrain if you encounter these.

     

    (4/2/2026)

    A skier triggered small soft slab on a NE aspect ridgeline near Anthony Lakes, Elkhorns. 

    (Guthrie photo, WAC caption).

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Natural wet loose slides are possible today and human triggered ones are likely on slopes over 35 degrees. These will be primarily small, but could be dangerous to your health if they swept you off your feet in steep terrain, or pulled you into a terrain trap. Watch for rollerballs or sticky hot snow as red flags for unstable wet snow. 

    Like cement, these can run surprisingly far into low-angled terrain, so be aware of overhead hazards in the afternoon.  Plan your routes to avoid any previously-dry slopes as they get heat.  

    (4/1/2026)

    7500' NE natural rollerballs originating from a cliff band, a precursor for wet loose avalanches.  

    Photo: Wallowa Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

If you make the effort to get above the dirt line, you could find some fun riding today.  Danger will increase with afternoon warming, so plan to exit early.  

There is high variability between low elevations with a dusting of new snow on wet dirt, middle ones with wettish-snow problems, and upper ones with dry snow problems. Whether you encounter a loose or slab problem, the stout 6+ inch thick April Fools crust would be the slick bed surface.  Cautious evaluation is key today, but with concerns only in the surface snow above that crust, you should get good feedback on instabilities.

Our snowpack is rapidly declining below 7,000 feet.  There are abundant dirt patches and creeks have opened up. 

 

Let's paint this picture together.  Let us know what you are seeing out there through an observation.  It doesn't need to be complex or technical- just a few pictures and a description of what you encountered is super helpful to forecasters.  

Beacon Parks: The beacon park at Salt Creek Summit snopark outside of Joseph, OR has been shut down for the season. The beacon training park at Anthony Lakes (across from the ski lift on Mud Lake) will remain open as long as there is enough snow.

Forecasting Season Ending April 5th: Sunday, April 5th, will be our last official Avalanche Forecast for this season. If a significant weather event impacts our region past this date, we may issue an update to our General Advisory Product.  Tom Whipple, signing out for 2026, but Caleb will round you out this weekend.  

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