Lawinenlagebericht

Southern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

Continued snowfall will build storm slab avalanches today. New snow today will obscure wind slabs that formed yesterday on NW- E facing slopes. Triggering a storm slab could be enough of a trigger to release an avalanche buried deeper in the snowpack. Staying off slopes steeper than 30 degrees is advised to avoid triggering an avalanche.

This forecast is sponsored by QuickHatch Provisions.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    6-12" of new yesterday with another 6" will create storm slabs. These slabs will rest atop a melt-freeze crust. The bond between the old and new snow will be initially weak and make it easy to trigger storm slabs. These storm slabs could be large enough to cause an avalanche to "step down" into the older weak snow below, triggering a persistent slab avalanche. New snow today will obscure small wind slabs that formed yesterday on NW- E facing slopes.

    Fresh snow begs to be tracked, especially after two weeks with no new snow. Fighting the urge to step out onto terrain steeper than 30 degrees will be necessary to avoid getting caught in an avalanche.

    (1/11/2024)

    Cracks like this in fresh snow are indications of storm slabs.

    Photo: Caleb Merrill

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–3

    Despite the warm weather and rain, poor snowpack structure still exists. While the likelihood of triggering a Persistent Slab avalanche has decreased, it is still possible. The slab of snow sitting above the weak layers has gotten more dense due to recent weather. Triggering an avalanche would have serious consequences. If you want to avoid avalanches you should stay off of slopes greater than 30 degrees. 

      

Avalanche Discussion

New snow today will obscure small wind slabs that formed yesterday on NW- E facing slopes. The new snow itself will create storm slab instabilities.  Observations from the Southern Wallowas show that we could be burying a new layer of surface hoar.  Reactive stability test results were found yesterday in the Northern Wallowas. All these factors make for a complex environment to travel through. When the complexity and consequences are high it's best to keep it simple and choose terrain less than 30 degrees.

The past two weeks have been warm and the mountains have received some rain. Large wet slides have been observed. This has changed and consolidated the snowpack. While the overall stability trend is headed in a good direction it is still possible to trigger a very large avalanche breaking 2-6' deep. The poor snowpack structure still exists. Continued vigilance is necessary to avoid getting caught in a powerful destructive avalanche.

JOIN US THIS WEEKEND IN LA GRANDE AND ANTHONY LAKES MOUNTAIN RESORT FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL EASTERN OREGON BACKCOUNTRY FESTIVAL. 

Friday, Feb 2nd

  • Matchstick Productions, "Land of Giants" at HQ in La Grande.  Doors open at 6, the pie auction at 6:30, and the film starts at 7.  

Saturday, Feb 3rd-

  • Kip Rand Memorial Backcountry Race 8 am 
  • 10 AM Avalanche Companion Rescue Clinic
  • 1 PM Snowpack assessment clinic
  • 3 PM Live music in the Starbottle

Sunday, Feb 4th-

  • Backcountry ski tour into Angell Basin

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