Eastside Region

LOW avalanche danger persists at all elevations. Variable and firm “slide for life” conditions and rockfall resulting from daytime warming remain the greatest hazards in the backcountry.  Monitor for unstable snow in isolated areas and be ready for a variety of challenging surface conditions.

Mostly cloudy skies and increasing winds will work together today to limit the potential for excessive surface moistening. However, it remains good practice to keep an eye out for isolated areas of unstable snow. Clues such as moist punchy surface snow, rollerballs & pinwheels, and increasing boot penetration are all signs of excessive warming and indications that it may be time to retreat to shadier aspects. More concerning to the backcountry enthusiast are the variable and challenging surface conditions. While it is possible to find soft recrystallized snow in sheltered areas on northerly aspects, a variety of surface crusts and hard and slick surfaces are commonplace throughout the forecast area, particularly in exposed areas near and above treeline. Be aware of your exposure to terrain hazards such as long steep slopes, cliff bands, tight rocky chokes, and stands of trees. Even an otherwise innocuous fall could easily lead to a perilous “slide for life” situation. Slow it down and remain vigilant if you find yourself in steep or consequential terrain. Equipment like boot and/or ski crampons and an ice ax may be critical even at lower elevations or in protected areas you may not typically expect to need them.

It has been 7 weeks since our last measurable precipitation. With any luck, this record-breaking dry spell may come to an end tomorrow.  While we do not expect a major load of new snow out of this system, it will be critical for us to adapt our mindset accordingly.  As the old adage goes “Today's surface is tomorrow's weak layer”. Even a small amount of new snow will likely find ways to surprise us. Hard and slick slopes will make good bed surfaces, near-surface facets may make great weak layers, and new snow will almost certainly mask obstacles that have recently made an appearance on the surface. If you find yourself in the backcountry today take stock of the surface conditions and try to anticipate what a new load may mean for us in the coming days.