Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Thu
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Steep, wind loaded terrain features are where you could still trigger a small avalanche on Wednesday. Natural hazards like rocks, stumps and other rugged terrain features still present risk and make for challenging travel in some areas. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Dry

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

    There is still some risk of triggering a wind slab avalanche even though the likelihood is diminishing with time. If you do find one, it will probably be on steep, unsupported terrain near ridgelines where wind deposited snow into unstable drifts. 

    Tune into the wind loading pattern in the terrain around you. Look for freshly built and smooth “pillow-like” drifts or textured surfaces that indicate the direction of wind loading. Currently a layer of rime points into - not away from - the predominant wind direction. The rime coats most trees and other objects in exposed terrain. You can use these visual cues to help you steer around the few places you might trigger an avalanche.

    (12/6/2022) Rime and scoured surfaces helped us anticipate wind loaded slopes. Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Observers in the Crystal Backcountry on Tuesday found evidence of minor wind transport and fresh drifts that would fracture when weighted. With a lack of significant snow for transport, new loading was limited despite moderate wind speeds. New wind slab formation was spotty. In general avalanche danger will slowly decrease with light winds and no snow forecast for Wednesday.

We currently are tracking two crusts deeper in the snowpack (buried on November 4th and 22nd) that have been associated with weaker snow throughout much of the zone. We do not currently have any confirmed avalanches (in backcountry terrain) associated with either crust or adjacent layers. Avalanche mitigation work did produce deeper avalanches late last week that may have involved one of these layers. 

It’s still worth investigating the snowpack in the areas you travel. Information is sparse, the zone is big, and snowpack variables can and will differ from one valley to the next. As always, you are responsible for your own observations and hazard assessment when it comes to ascending, descending or going across steep terrain.

When choosing terrain, think about the consequences of being caught, even in a small slide. There are still plenty of bushes, stumps, creeks, and open holes out there that could ruin your season. Multiple observations from both professionals and recreational backcountry travelers confirm conditions are still in the early season stage, especially at lower elevations.

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