Lawinenlagebericht

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 5 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Lingering wind drifted snow and cornices may remain in leeward terrain along upper ridgelines.  These areas should be avoided.   Lower elevation terrain that is seeing warmer temperatures and sun may start to develop small wet loose avalanches.  In your travels today, if you are seeing any redflags of instabilty such as rapid warming from the sun or temperature, cracks in the snow surface, strong over weak snow in your handpits or pole pokes, or signs of avalanche activity, choose more simple terrain with slope angles less than 35 degrees.  

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Lingering and stubborn windslabs will remain along leeward ridgelines.   While they may not be very sensitive, it's always a good idea to maintain your ability to be surprised in the mountains.  Continue to avoid areas that have rounded and smooth pillowy snow surfaces or start zones that have a rippled snow texture.  Cornices have grown in the last week and should be given a wide berth.  They may break further back than expected, especially during times of warming temperatures.  

  • Loose Wet

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

    Look for evidence of wet loose avalanches during the warmest part of the day today.  As the snow surface warms from direct sun and warm temperatures, it may loose cohesion and start small wet loose avalanches.  These could occur in terrain steeper than 35 degrees near rocks and cliff bands that hold heat and warm the snow faster.  The can start as small point releases such as in the adjacent photo.  Other signs of wet loose activity include pinwheels of snow rolling down a steep slope.   While today's wet loose problem will likely not big enough to bury a person, a wet loose avalanche could certainly knock you off of your feet injuring you or carrying you over consequential terrain such as a cliff or into a group of trees.  

    (1/5/2022)

    This photo was taken during the warmup last week.  Surface snow is warm and wet at this location, has started a point release given the steep slope angle.  Point releases and pinwheels are telltale signs of wet loose avalanche activity. 

    Photo: cm

Avalanche Discussion

An inch or so of new snow yesterday afternoon has hopefully improved riding conditions a bit.  Observers report that terrain that has westerly or southerly aspects are sun and wind affected- a rugged surface in many places.   The warmup that occured last Thursday spared the upper elevation regions of the Southern Wallowas from the dreaded rain.  Observers reported the rainline to be around 5400' during that warmup.  Natural storm slab and wind slab avalanches ran during and just after the storm.  You can check out a pro observation from that time here. 

Surface Hoar/Hoar Frost was observed in protected areas below treeline on Wednesday.  While warm temperatures likely destroyed it, it may still exist in isolated areas.  Look for evidence of it in protected, cold, low lying drainages.  While not dangerous when on the surface, when it is buried while it is intact- it can become a persistent weak layer.  

Please submit observations to the WAC site here.  Forecasters rely on your eyes out there to help paint a better picture.  Even just a photo of what you are seeing is extremely helpful.  Thanks! 

 

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