East Slopes North

Prepare for firm snow surfaces in the morning and general mountain hazards. Wet avalanches will be difficult to trigger but not impossible, particularly if the snow surface melts quickly. Move off steep slopes if you sink deeply into wet snow, and limit your time below cornices and rock faces holding snow.

While avalanches are unlikely, there are hazards to consider. Even with slim chances, the consequences of a cornice fall or a rock face shedding snow could be significant. As is typical in spring, the chance of avalanches will increase as the day warms. Cornices are very large and overhang many ridges. Many steep cliffs and rock faces are still covered with significant snow. Even at low danger, it's wise to minimize your exposure to potential overhead hazards. 

Recent observations have found that surfaces have been solidly frozen and supportive. Prepare for firm crusts first thing in the morning. Bring traction equipment, like crampons (ski/boot), to prevent an uncontrolled fall on steep, frozen slopes. With some overnight clouds following Saturday's warm, weak storm, you may find that surfaces soften quickly on Sunday. The sun will warm surfaces even on northeast and northwest aspects. If you travel above 6,500ft, take time to check how thick the surface crusts are. There's a chance that you could find areas of wet and unsupportive snow sufficient enough to trigger small wet avalanches. If you sink into the snow up to the top of your boots, it's time to move to lower-angle terrain.

Surfaces near Washington Pass saw solid overnight freezes with clear skies between the 7th and the 10th. There have been temperature inversions since the 7th, and some upper elevation slopes haven't seen as many hours below freezing. That said, clear skies earlier in the week did help surfaces form crusts. On the 10th, observers on Big Craggy Mountain reported solid freezes (including upper elevations), supportive crusts, and softening surface snow on south aspects. On the 11th, WSDOT forecasters reported similar conditions at Washington Pass. On the 7th, an NWAC forecaster found that surface crusts were weaker than those reported later in the week, and east aspects at low elevations became unsupportive by midday. No new avalanches have been reported since roughly the 5th, when wet slides 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.

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

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.