Mt Hood

Triggering an avalanche is unlikely, however, look for signs of unstable snow as you travel. Exercise caution in exposed areas where you may find isolated pockets of wind-drifted snow. Your greatest hazard will be the firm travel conditions, so equip yourself with the proper gear to reduce the chances of a long sliding fall. 

We always talk about wind slabs here on Mt Hood. You might be questioning why Wind Slab is not listed as a problem on Thursday. This is because it's been 4 days since our last loading event that created wind slabs in many unusual areas, such as west-facing slopes. This loading event was also responsible for a close call that I was involved in on Mt. St Helens (observation here).  Many of these slabs are now gaining strength and trending towards unreactive due to time. Dallas and I verified this on Pea Gravel Ridge on Tuesday.  You may notice west winds blowing any remaining snow in exposed areas.  These pockets are expected to be shallow and isolated, but worth keeping an eye on and looking for signs of unstable snow as you travel through the terrain. 

With warming temperatures and sunshine on Thursday, you may notice the snow surface becoming moist, especially on steep south-facing slopes. As the day heats up you may see some rollerballs, or even small wet loose avalanches in extreme terrain. These are expected to be small and isolated since the snowpack has been beaten up by wind and warm-ups. 

The biggest hazard you will encounter will be the slip and fall hazard. The mid and upper elevations of Mt Hood are plagued with firm and icy surfaces. So be sure to pack your sharp gear such as crampons and a ice axe if you plan on traveling in these exposed areas.

If you get out, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!