Olympics

Allow yourself enough time to safely navigate variable and at times challenging travel conditions.  Sunny slopes may eventually soften as the day warms, but come prepared for icy slopes, especially in the morning.   

NPS and NWAC forecasters found a skiff of new snow Friday in the Hurricane Ridge area.  Variable surfaces are the name of the game in this persistent pattern.  Southerly slopes have a stout crust that may soften under sunny skies and warming temperatures.  They also present the greatest slide hazard, especially during the morning hours.  Make sure you can safely arrest a fall before crossing a steep icy slope. 

Shadier aspects have a thinner crust that will keep you on your toes (or off your toes if you're not paying attention) and is sometimes supportable, sometimes not.   If you're lucky, you can find some pockets of softer snow on shadier aspects as well.  The most challenging conditions exist in the trees where very firm, irregular surfaces resemble a frozen coral reef.   

There are not any layers of concern in the snowpack at this time.  However, weak surface snow and crust/facet combinations abound and will be the focus for avalanche activity when a stormier pattern returns next week.