East Slopes South

With cloudy skies and little precipitation in store for Friday, avalanche conditions are generally safe at all aspects and elevations. Expect changing conditions and for hazard to rise as new snow begins to accumulate over the weekend on weak layers present in the snowpack.

We are staring down a weather pattern change that is hopefully here to stay for a while. As some areas on the west side of the Cascades begin to see accumulative precipitation on Friday, things will largely hold off until Friday night for the east side. You may see a couple of flurries if you're immediately adjacent to the Cascade Crest during the day. Otherwise, it's going to be a relatively benign day in the mountains.

Observations from around NWAC forecast zones show a complex and weak layering to the upper portion of the snowpack as of Thursday the 12th. There is widespread surface hoar development, crust/facet sandwiches, and a poor bond between recent snow and slick crusts below. These layers and interfaces will get buried on Friday night and set the stage for future avalanches with enough new snow and load. Saturday will probably be a day to take a step back from avalanche terrain and patiently assess snowpack conditions as the weekend progresses. Read more here about using the strategic mindset decision making tool to help make good choices in the backcountry.

Once the snow really gets going, it should be accumulating through the bottom of the lower elevation band. Much of it will be falling on bare ground, especially in areas east of Darland Mountain. Even in terrain higher up, there are a lot of exposed hazards that you don't normally see this time of year. These include rocks, random holes, creeks, and downed logs. Give yourself extra time and precaution to manage these “early season” conditions and know that some hazards may be obscured by new snow.