Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
Open full map
Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 6 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Consider avoiding large, complex, unsupported slopes, and especially ones where terrain traps beneath you would compound the consequences of getting caught in an avalanche. Avalanches could be larger and more reactive in wind-loaded areas, but there's still a chance you could trigger an avalanche in sheltered terrain lower down on a steep slope. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Your biggest concern is triggering even a small avalanche in complex terrain. A minor slide could knock you off your feet and carry you over cliffs, across hard crust or rocks just beneath the new snow, through trees, or into a gully where debris can pile up deeply.

    Slopes are gradually stabilizing after about a foot of snow fell before Valentine’s Day. At least one rider was caught and carried on both Saturday and Sunday (observation). Observers reported that triggering became more difficult by Sunday, even in steep, unsupported terrain, with most activity limited to loose dry avalanches.

    Wind slabs remain the most likely place to trigger a larger, more reactive avalanche. However, lingering persistent weak layers could still produce small but surprising avalanches in atypical, non–wind-loaded terrain—such as sheltered, steep features farther downslope than expected. Snow continues to slide easily on the crust beneath the new snow and at the interface with older, dry snow on shaded aspects.

    (2/15/2026)

    A complex array of crown lines and human-triggered avalanches on the east flanks of Mt Herman from Saturday. Before entering terrain like this, consider, "what would happen if this slope slid? Would I get pushed into trees or get buried deeply in a seemingly benign gully?" 

    Photo: Jason Speer

Avalanche Discussion

On Sunday, a forecaster at Canyon Creek found a propagating weak layer in a north-facing pit beneath a very soft, subtle slab of new snow that was just over a foot deep. Lingering persistent weaknesses remain, especially in areas that stayed colder prior to the recent storm—such as Canyon Creek and far east in the zone. The forecaster also easily triggered wet, heavy, loose avalanches as they made their way down south-facing slopes. They noted that they needed an escape route as the heavy slides continued winding slowly along behind them. 

Expect overcast skies Monday with an inch or two of light, fluffy snow. Southerly aspects will have a surface crust beneath this new snow, formed during Sunday’s intense sunshine. On Sunday, dry loose avalanches ran on shaded slopes, and will likely continue on Monday.  

Lower elevations and areas with a thicker tree canopy even up into the mid elevation band have a minimal snow base beneath the new layer of snow. There may be a few spots with smooth, old snow cover in the lower elevation band where avalanches could happen. But keep in mind all the bare or nearly bare areas if you're planning on traveling into more obscure spots around the zone. 

Abgedeckte Regionen