Snoqualmie Pass

Problemas de aludes

• 

  Storm Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Very Likely

  Tamaño

  1–2

  1-2ft of snow with extreme winds equals avalanches, natural and human-triggered. Slides will be big enough to injure or kill a backcountry traveler. There could be failure planes within the fresh snow, or the new snow could slide on a surface crust. While slabs could be plenty reactive in wind-sheltered terrain, danger will be even higher where the wind drifts snow into deeper and harder slabs. Some of these slides could break above you, propagate widely across the terrain, and run well into lower-angle terrain below. Though usual locations near ridges and below cliffs will certainly be suspect, expect to find reactive slabs well below the ridge into all elevations. 

  Fresh avalanches, cracking, and collapsing are obvious signs of instability, and you can use hand pits, uptrack tests, and small test slopes to assess for bonding. Blowing snow is another red flag. That said, the best way to manage on Tuesday is to stay off of and out from under steep open slopes, regardless of what you see and feel. Given the multitude of hazards and unrelenting storms, it isn't worth poking the bear. Lower-angle forested slopes could hold good riding conditions tomorrow! 

  

• 

  Glide Cracks

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Possible

  Tamaño

  1–2.5

  We are using glide as a catch-all for a variety of wet problems that could present on Tuesday. Much of the snowpack is still soaked and it will take time for the water to drain and/or re-freeze. These avalanches are unpredictable, can release after the rain has subsided, and can be large and destructive. Don't linger below any open glide cracks. 

  Wet loose will be smaller in size but more likely to occur. They will be especially likely at lower elevations near the rain/snow line. Steer clear of steep slopes if you see moist snow on the surface, sink in past your boot tops into wet snow, or see rain falling on new snow.

  Wet slabs are far less likely, but can't fully be ruled out. This would be an extremely unlikely, but devastating avalanche. Upper and middle-elevation slopes on the northern half of the compass where the JDL and 1/10 may still be intact are the most likely locations, and it would probably take a larger trigger, like a wind or storm slab avalanche, to cause a release. By avoiding the storm slab problem, you will avoid this issue as well.