Olympics

Warm temperatures and sunshine might help soften the snow surface, but shouldn’t create much in the way of avalanche concerns. Pay attention to what’s above your head and don’t linger under rocky faces holding blocks of snow.

Warmer air will start to push into the Olympics on Sunday. With temperatures above freezing, the sun should easily soften southerly slopes. After so many, sunny and dry weeks, the snowpack should handle this change well, but there are a few things to consider.

Rocky slopes will warm faster than other areas. This could cause an isolated blob of snow or cornice to shed with little or no warning. The question is, is there any snow left to fall down? It doesn’t seem like there’s very much. Keep an eye on what’s above you and don’t linger underneath these potential overhead hazards. 

While steep sunny slopes should soften, they likely won’t produce any consequential wet loose avalanche issues. Even still, monitor the snow surface throughout the day. If you find wet snow deeper than your ankle, the slope may be trending toward an avalanche. Go find slopes with less sloppy wet snow. 

Travel conditions continue to pose the greatest hazard. Expect variable snow with firm, sometimes icy,  slopes on southern aspects. Shaded terrain tends to hold breakable crusts, firm snow, wind textured surfaces, and pockets of soft sugar (facets). The most challenging travel is often in the trees where icy, irregular surfaces look more like a frozen coral reef than a winter wonderland. Make sure you have the tools, techniques, and time to deal with the wide variety of snow conditions. 

Despite the prolonged streak of quiet weather, the snowpack continues to change. Sunny aspects formed robust icy surfaces. Meanwhile,  the surface in shaded terrain generally weakened. You might find crusts breaking down, sugary facets, and surface hoar. Unfortunately, this dry spell took a toll on the lower elevations snowpack where thin coverage and bare ground are common.