Lawinenlagebericht

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

You may be able to trigger small wet loose avalanches on steep sunny slopes. Monitor snow surfaces as they thaw throughout the day, and move to shady or lower angle terrain if you find weak slushy snow. Slabs of wind drifted snow also linger in the alpine, so look and feel for changes in snow surface texture and hardness before committing to consequential terrain. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

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

    A slight cooling trend on 3/2 at the tail end of the recent storm allowed 3-5in of cold, dry snow to accumulate above 5500ft. As the sunshine thaws this recent surface snow again on E-S-W aspects, there is a chance for additional wet loose avalanches. Be on the lookout for fresh rollerballs and pinwheels, especially around steep rocky outcrops in direct sun. Keep your return routes in mind as well - slopes you crossed early in the day could become wet and weak by afternoon. Terrain traps such as valley bottoms, cliffs, or recently exposed talus will all increase the risk of even a small avalanche.

    (3/4/2022) Several small natural loose wet avalanches in Pollalie Canyon Photo: Andrew Kiefer

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Mt Hood Meadows Patrol triggered a handful of small wind slabs with explosives in Heather Canyon on Friday with crowns as deep as 2ft. Observations from the Tilly Jane/Cooper Spur area showed variable wind loading patterns from the past week and potential wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine. Plenty of hollow-sounding snow and firm wind-drifted pillows exist, and still may be reactive to human traffic on Saturday on unsupported slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Be alert if you climb high into wind-affected terrain, especially below cliffs, near cornices, and on rocky slopes. 

    (3/4/2022) Heavily wind affected snow on Cooper Spur Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

The weekend looks to bring cold, clear nights and daytime highs in the upper 30s to low 40s. Northerly winds should be light to moderate and sunny skies are expected. The atmospheric river event earlier in the week altered the snowpack leaving variable conditions. Below treeline, snow surfaces are icy and covered in tree debris with a few south and west-facing slopes melted out to bare ground. Between 5500-6500ft, 3-5in of cold recycled powder sits atop a firm crust; in these areas, you'll find the best travel conditions on sheltered northerly aspects and the best chance for loose wet slides on E-S-W aspects. Above 6500ft, the snow surfaces are variable with plenty of wind-affected, grabby snow. 

There was an impressive avalanche cycle on Mt Hood earlier in the week during the wet and wild storm. During peak precipitation intensity on 2/28, several very large natural dry snow avalanches released high on the mountain. In a few cases, dry snow avalanches ran through the rain/snow line around 8000ft and entrained significant wet snow creating very large, river-like debris piles. Cooling temperatures the past few days have allowed the snowpack to gain strength and continued large natural avalanche activity is unlikely. Check out a few of the largest documented avalanches from the 2/26-3/2 atmospheric river: Clark Canyon, Eliot Glacier Headwall, White River Canyon.

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