Lawinenlagebericht

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Wed
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 3 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

A few inches of new snow combined with strong winds will create shallow wind slabs just large enough to take you for a ride at upper elevations. Note the direction of active or recent wind transport and steer around suspect steep slopes. At lower and middle elevations, poor coverage and crust maintain challenging travel.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate to strong winds will redistribute several inches of dense snowfall above 6500 ft (upper elevations). Hazard likely peaks with the strongest winds and more consistent precipitation early Tuesday. Snow should adhere to moist surfaces with a generally good bond. Winds will be strong enough to build slabs you can trigger on lee aspects steeper than 35 degrees. These lee slopes focus on the northern half of the compass. Note the rain/snow line as you ascend and adjust your mindset as you transition from wet to dry snow surfaces.  Actively blowing snow and fresh sharp cornices point you in the direction of the specific avalanche start zones and cross-loaded features you will want to steer around.

Avalanche Discussion

After a week of primarily above-freezing temperatures at all NWAC forecast elevations on Mt Hood, the upper elevations will finally cool enough for snowfall Monday night through Tuesday. Bands of lower/middle elevation rain and upper elevation snowfall should peak overnight through Tuesday morning, before tapering to showers. Late in the day on Tuesday, snow levels may rise slightly and steep slopes in the 6500-7000 ft range could produce some minor rollerball or wet loose activity. At lower elevations, rain falls on top of thick crusts and should do little more than create slushy snow surfaces. If you manage to find areas where the crusts are not supportable at these elevations, wet snow that you can sink into 6" or deeper is your sign to navigate around slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

A poor overnight refreeze Sunday night, followed by light rainfall early Monday produced a layer of slush on top of thick crusts on the south side of Mt Hood. This slush layer should refreeze at upper elevations as temperatures cool Monday night, helping create the expected good bond with the incoming snow.

The firm, thick, and in some places, icy surface crusts remain present on Mt Hood, but conditions may be less hazardous than in previous days. A freezing rain crust between 5500 ft and 7000 ft could still prove challenging for travelers when negotiating steep slopes on Tuesday.  See the following observation and consider packaging your "sharps kit" ' including an ice axe and crampons to help you travel more efficiently and, most importantly, reduce the chance of a long sliding fall. Photos in the gallery show the range of crusts and challenging travel conditions encountered on Mt Hood during the recent dry spell.

While the coverage is fairly good above 6600 ft on Mt Hood, the same cannot be said for middle and lower elevations. If you plan to travel at these elevations, travel slower and more methodically, noting areas where you might encounter obstacles such as rocks, roots, tree stumps, or creeks.

If you get up on the mountain, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation.

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