Olympics

A sleeping beast continues to sit quietly in the snowpack. If you happen to awaken it, you experience a very large and deadly avalanche. You can tiptoe around the slumbering giant by staying off of steep open slopes.

Numerous observations documented weak snow structure in the Olympics. This layering is not very different from the snowpacks in the Cascades which resulted in several very large avalanches,  a couple of near misses, and one fatality this past week. (See the short video in the media gallery below for more information).  While our last observations in the Olympics on this layer occurred last Sunday, nothing in the recent weather would suggest that this weakness gained significant strength. This is setting up to be a classic low-likelihood/ high-consequence scenario. The snowpack may not give you any obvious signs of instability. You could walk around all day and the snowpack  “feel” stable. However, if you dig into the snow you may find weak sugary facets just above the mid-January crust about 3’ below the snow surface. Snow profiles and snowpack tests can help you track this weak layer, but don’t bet your life on any hole in the snow. If you trigger an avalanche on this layer, it could produce a very large slide that propagates widely across the terrain. Avoid large steep open slopes until this sleeping monster has time to heal. 

While the deeper problem weighs heavy on our minds, don’t forget about the surface snow. You may trigger small avalanches in wind drifted pockets. These thin slabs could hide under a veil of soft fluffy powder. If you see cornices or drifts, be leery of nearby steep slopes. While these slides should remain small and relatively harmless, they may act as the trigger for the deeper weak layers in the snowpack discussed above. 

2020-21 Forecast Schedule: Avalanche danger ratings will be issued for the Olympics every Friday through Sunday and during mid-week holidays. During the week when the Hurricane Ridge road is closed, forecast information will be updated daily to include expected conditions and relevant travel advice under the No Rating label.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.