Olympics

Low danger doesn't mean no danger. Isolated wind slabs may form at the highest elevations, while wet avalanches should remain on your mind until surface crusts form.  Hurricane Ridge has lost snow coverage in recent weeks, so prepare for open creeks and barely-covered rocks, stumps, and logs on most elevations and aspects.

A Christmas atmospheric river was not what we had on our Christmas wish list...rain fell to elevations well above the ridgeline at Hurricane Ridge. This rain likely wetted and consolidated 4" of snow that fell on Friday and we could get upwards of half an inch of liquid water before the storm ends with a dusting to a few inches of snow. If there's enough snow to drift into slabs, use your pole or probe to keep tabs on the depth of the dry snow above the refreezing crust. Watch for freshly formed cornices and signs of snow redistribution. An isolated wind slab knocking you off your feet has that early season risk of increased trauma. Water may also be gushing through the snowpack in parts of the Olympics (particularly the southern half). It's not worth spending time below rocky slopes where a patch of snow could detach as a relatively shallow glide avalanche.

In most of the terrain, travel hazards remain your biggest challenge:

• The surface or near-surface crust by Boxing Day may refreeze and could be breakable. 
• Early season conditions and hazards exist at lower elevations, on wind-stripped aspects, on all typically sun-affected slopes, and along ridgelines. Rocks, roots, grass, and stumps will exacerbate any fall on ice or potentially a small avalanche.

Observers reported that N-NE aspects held the deepest snow along with your best chance for continuous on-snow travel as of last weekend. 

We know some of you will be out enjoying the backcountry - please take a few minutes and share what you're seeing through an observation.