Olympics

Slick crusts may not soften due to increasing winds and cloud cover, maintaining the risk for uncontrolled falls on all aspects.  Rockfall becomes a concern from the slopes above you as direct sunshine melts shallow snowpack areas.

Hurricane Ridge temperatures remained above 40F from Wednesday morning until mid-afternoon on Friday when the temperature finally dropped into the 30s. Winter took a break around January 11th with temperatures largely staying above freezing for over 2 weeks.  The few storms that have impacted the area resulted in more rain than snow over the same stretch.  Wet snow avalanches were more frequent earlier in the month when we transitioned from a dry, cold snowpack, to our current springlike pattern. Avalanche activity has nearly ground to a halt across the region over the last five days as the snowpack gained strength and adjusted to the milder conditions. Conditions were firm on Friday with no reported avalanche activity. ONP rangers reported that the winds flattened surface hoar along ridgelines, but we are interested to know whether any weaker snow has been preserved at or near the surface in more sheltered areas. Please help us monitor snow surface conditions by submitting an observation.

Glide cracks have opened up over this stretch and old cornices are sagging.  Reports of a few glide avalanches in the Hurricane Ridge area are now over a week old; a D1.5 glide avalanche was reported 1/21 on a N aspect and a small glide avalanche failed during the day on Thursday 1/20  (SSE aspect, 4600 ft), covering half of the Hurricane Ridge road.  Minimal snowpack consolidation over the last week at Hurricane Ridge suggests that many aspects have achieved a steady and stabilized state. However, shallower sun-exposed aspects and ridges have melted back significantly exposing grass and rocks.

Slightly cooler temperatures combined with increased winds maintain firm, icy crusts slower to soften and maintains non-avalanche risks as your primary safety concern if you plan to travel around Hurricane Ridge:

1. You're likely to find challenging surface conditions where icy conditions persist on all aspects.   Some form of spikes (crampons, ice ax, etc) may be useful. Make sure you can self-arrest before crossing a steep slope, especially near terrain traps like trees, open creeks, rocks, etc.
2. Large cornices remain a hazard as warm temperatures continue to weaken them. Give them a wide berth while traveling along ridgelines and don't linger on slopes beneath them.
3. Open glide cracks present a hazard much like a crevasse. Also, avoid hanging out below them as sufficient water may still be draining the snowpack to produce a glide avalanche that can shed the full snowpack without warning.  
4. Wet loose avalanches are possible on wind-sheltered steep slopes where the snow becomes wet and punchy.  If you find yourself sinking in deeper than your ankle, it's time to change aspects, move away from warming rocks, and transition to lower-angle terrain. 

2021-22 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.