Olympics

The shallow snowpack continues to experience spring-like melt-freeze conditions. Softening cornices risk failure during the mid-day hours and combine with open glide cracks to increase hazard on the slopes below. Ensure you have the skills and tools necessary to cross steep slick, crusted slopes.

Hurricane Ridge basked in warm, sunny weather with light winds through the weekend. At the Waterhole Weather station, Sunday's high temperature (46F) was a few degrees cooler than Saturday (46F) . The combination of an atmospheric river that brought rain to the highest peaks last weekend, followed by an extended period of sunshine and mountain temperatures in the 40s and 50s has drastically reduced the now very consolidated snowpack. Hurricane Ridge had 26" of total snow depth and waterhole was consistent at 24" throughout the weekend. The best riding conditions throughout the region have generally been on sun-exposed SW-S-SE aspects. Unfortunately, snow coverage is becoming very shallow and discontinuous on these aspects. Most snow surfaces have dimples reminiscent of spring or early summer snowpacks.

Glad activity has been decreasing, but may not be completely finished. Here are a few reports of glide avalanches and glide cracks:

• A large glide avalanche was reported on 01/15 on a steep N-NW aspect on the trail to Hurricane Hill (Steep and Icy Path). The exact timing of the avalanche is unknown.
• A glide crack was observed, in North Bowl just below Sunrise Point on 01/17. The timing of the crack opening remains uncertain.

These avalanches imply that in some areas water may still be draining the snowpack. Glide avalanches occur without warning. A glide failure would ruin your day. Simply avoid the steep slopes under these brown frowns. Glide avalanches can occur where smooth terrain or slick bedrock exists on a steep slope.

A few other concerns despite the Low Danger: 

• Cornices are cut back, but there may be some hangfire remaining. Chunks of snow on the slope are generally from older cornice fall activity. Cornices that do hang over the slope and particularly those that droop, may break back farther than you expect along a ridgeline, while also adding risk on the slope below.
• Crusts have likely reached their maximum thickness by this point in the warm, dry pattern. Thicker crusts make it difficult to break them down in order to initiate wet loose avalanches. However, if crusts do break down, corn skiing transitions to wet loose management. Transition away from slopes 35 degrees and steeper or move to aspects with supportable crusts. Use caution around extreme features, like very steep slopes below sun-soaked cliffs, chutes and rock bands, where the snow is receiving additional heating and there's a higher likelihood of triggering a wet loose avalanche. 
• The snowpack should contain multiple crusts and is unlikely to harbor any weak snow layers of concern. 
• Firm, icy surfaces may be present throughout the day, but are particularly widespread before slopes soften in the mid-day hours. Reports of especially hazardous conditions exist where tree bombs have created slick ice and uneven surfaces in the trees. Before you move across icy steep slopes, make sure to have the proper traction and be ready to arrest a fall.  
• Shallow snow hazards are very much back in play; ridgelines are frequently down to dirt excepted in corniced areas; and snow has become discontinuous on sun-exposed aspects.

Enjoy the sunshine! 

Weather station note: We are working with the NPS to restore communications to the Hurricane Ridge weather station.  Right now, we don't have an estimated return time.