Olympics

Crusts cap all aspects, maintaining low avalanche danger at most elevations. Although these crusts are edgeable, proceed with caution on steeper terrain to prevent a sliding fall. If you ascend above 6000 ft, you may find shallow amounts of recent snow that could form unstable drifts. 

Saturday morning, a group of four backcountry tourers were involved in an avalanche accident near Kendall Peak in the Commonwealth Basin area of Snoqualmie Pass. Details are still being gathered, but the accident occurred on a SW aspect at 5600ft. All four members were caught and carried. Two were injured. The party called 911 to request assistance. Search and rescue responded to the area and brought the victims to the trailhead.

Partly sunny skies and cool temperatures through Sunday should keep snow surfaces on all but the sunniest aspects firm and frozen. A sharp frontal system brought a brief period of heavier precipitation Friday morning.  Most of the 0.25" of snow water equivalent fell at temperatures between 34 and 32F as rain at Hurricane Ridge proper. Judging by the lack of snow on the trees on Mt Angeles, the recent crust extends up to 6000 ft with prior crusts possibly higher in the terrain. Firm crusts exist on S and W aspects while trap crusts predominate on N and E aspects. All crusts are edgeable, but the trap crust surface is breakable and could trip you up.  

Some blowing snow was visible in the bailey range, suggesting that if you do get above 6000 ft, you might find isolated wind drifts. If you do find 2-3" or more of snow above the most recent crust or old snow interface in your terrain, test the reactivity on a wind loaded test slope before engaging with steep terrain off of ridgelines.

On Thursday, ONP Rangers traveled in the Hurricane Hill area of Hurricane Ridge. With temperatures rising to 49F(!), melt-freeze (corn) conditions developed on aspects directly facing the sun. The ONP Rangers also investigated several other weaknesses in the snowpack. They found two layers that sheared off with a shovel (around 14 and 22 inches down, respectively), but these layers did not fail in compression tests. The snow overlying the solstice crust failed progressively on hard taps 30" down at a grain size interface. This layer is not believed to be of concern at this time.

Ample snow cover makes for easier travel above 4000', however near this elevation, holes, creeks, and other obstacles quickly impede easy navigation. 

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