Mt Hood

It is necessary that you carry sharp, self-arresting equipment for travel over hard, icy surfaces. Additionally, patchy snow coverage has made recreation challenging. Avalanches remain unlikely as sun exposed slopes soften only minimally each day. Come prepared for it all with the right equipment and good travel techniques.

Thanks to cold temperatures and robust surface crust formation, avalanche hazard is, and will remain for the time being, low. Your chief concern is these slick melt freeze surface crusts that are not breaking down during the day. Bumpy runnels and ice are very common, too. An NWAC Forecaster traveling in the zone on Sunday reported unsafe skiing conditions above 7000 ft due to these firm surfaces. A long, uncontrolled fall could go from bad to worse in conditions such as these, especially if you run into rocks, cliffs, trees, or creeks. These hazards are quite present right now, given how meager the snowpack is, and such incidents have been reported in the Cascades and Mt. Hood over the past week. Stack the odds in your favor by carrying something sharp to arrest a fall and know how to use it: ski/boot crampons, whippets, ice axes, etc. Don't forget to wear your helmet too!

As mentioned, the prolonged warm temperatures and sunshine have reduced the already shallow snowpack on Mt. Hood, especially around rocky sun-exposed slopes and on previously scoured ridges. E-S-W aspects have been through many days of melt and freeze, and on some slopes, there's not much left. Approaches remain reminiscent of early season conditions. Open creeks, rocks, and trees continue to plague the terrain.

The flurries of snow forecasted for Sunday night have now shifted to Monday night. Unfortunately, accumulation will be negligible, but being aware of the incoming change is important. Faceting in the upper portion of the snowpack is now present in some shaded terrain. Along with crusts that could act as slick, sliding surfaces, these layers could become problematic once buried. As we finally face down a shift to stormy weather, start thinking about how you'll shift your mindset when you're in the backcountry.

Always be aware that conditions could be different above NWAC forecast elevation bands. Earlier this week, observers reported a large wet loose avalanche triggered presumably by rockfall at 9400 ft. Other hazards, such as rime ice, could also fall from above. Keep your head up as you gain elevation and don't linger under rocks and cliffs.

While low avalanche danger exists, continue to practice safe travel rituals, such as exposing only one person to steep terrain at a time and carrying a functioning avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe. This could even be a great time to practice rescue with that equipment if you haven't yet this season!