Boletín de aludes

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Wed
Alta montaña
3 · Notable
Límite del bosque
3 · Notable
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó last year. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Avalanche danger was higher than expected on Monday, with at least one person getting caught and partially buried in an avalanche, and conditions may be similar on Tuesday. Your largest concern is recent storm snow layers, where avalanches will probably be less than a foot deep, but they could be deeper, so avoid steep slopes, especially on large, unsupported features or if terrain traps exist. If the sun shines, wet avalanches could result on steep slopes facing the sun. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    1–2

    Avalanche danger was higher than we thought it was on Monday, and human-triggered avalanches were likely. Triggering an avalanche may still be likely on Tuesday. Avalanches are mainly failing in newer storm layers, less than a foot deep, but it's not out of the question that a slide could fail on a deeper layer, given the 2+ feet of recent storm snow we've received over the last few days. Avalanches could also be larger and more reactive on wind-loaded slopes. 

    Several human-triggered avalanches were reported in the Baker backcountry, and also at the Anderson Watson Sno Park on Monday. One skier was reportedly partially buried in a small avalanche, due to the avalanche debris piling up deeper in a terrain trap. All of the avalanches we heard about were less than a foot deep, but we're not completely confident one wouldn't fail deeper. 

    Avoid steep slopes on Tuesday, especially if they are large and unsupported. Stop and reevaluate if you're about to enter a slope with terrain traps as well, because even a small avalanche could send you over a cliff or bury you deep in a gully. 

    (3/17/2025)

    A human triggered slab avalanche in the Baker backcountry. AS- SS-D1.5-I

    Photo: Robert Hahn

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–2

    This spring weather is fickle. We have the best chances of seeing the sun on Tuesday, which means wet loose avalanches may happen. If the sun shines, you can expect to see wet loose avalanches on steep slopes facing the sun, especially if the snow is light and fluffy- which is most surfaces. If you see rollerballs or avalanches, steer clear of those slopes, including the terrain beneath them, where an avalanche could run or stop. 

    (3/21/2021)

    Wet loose avalanches often initiate where snow sheds off rocks and trees onto the slope below. Note that there are both small rollerballs and wet loose avalanches in this image. 

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mtn Ascents

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Unlikely
    Tamaño
    1.5–2.5

    Some spots in the zone harbor weak snow beneath the last couple of week's storm layers. An avalanche that fails on a layer of buried surface hoar or facets can propagate widely, be larger or deeper than expected, and will definitely take you by surprise. The avalanche will probably be around 3 feet deep, possibly more. The best advice for avoiding being caught in one of these avalanches is to avoid large, steep slopes, especially if unsupported or above terrain traps, at mid and upper elevations on northwest through east aspects, which is the same as our advice for storm slabs. 

    The type and distribution of weak layers varies between buried surface hoar in Canyon Creek, facets over a crust in the Sisters Range, or any other unusual combination given the local variations in snowpack that we've seen in the last few weeks. Although not out of the question, we have less evidence that these weak underlying layers exist in the Baker backcountry area. These layers are gaining strength and probably becoming harder to trigger, but if you trigger and get caught in a persistent slab avalanche, it would take you for a scary ride and easily kill you.  

    (3/14/2025)

    A snowmobile triggered avalanche in the Canyon Creek area. This avalanche looks like it failed on the persistent weak layer, which is probably about 2 ft deep, and exists on shady slopes. 

    Photo: Kassi Leeper

Avalanche Discussion

Given all the recent snow that exists, tree wells and other snow immersion hazards are a concern that aren't to be taken lightly right now. Overall, there's a lot of uncertainty in our snowpack right now, given the many newer layers of snow. This is a time to stay conservative in the backcountry. 

We've received about 3 feet of snow in the last few days, and small storms are continuing to deposit more layers. Given the unpredictable springlike nature of recent storms, forecasts were calling for less than two inches Sunday night but we received closer to six. Similar conditions could present themselves on Monday night. 

If you make it into the backcountry, please share with us what you find by submitting an obervation HERE, or on the Avy App. 

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