West Slopes North

The avlanche danger is generally low, but recently opening—and in some cases failing—glide cracks warrant continued attention to the slopes above you. Avoid lingering beneath a brown frown or wrinkled-looking snowpack. On steep terrain, wet snow surfaces in the sun may still produce loose wet avalanches.

Observers in the Baker Backcountry and Canyon Creek on Wednesday reported dry snow on shaded aspects. NWAC forecastrs were in Canyon Creek reported 14-16" of dry snow (at Canyon Creek) has a favorable density profile above the 12/24 crust, ample rollerball activity, and moist snow surfaces on sun-exposed aspects, but minimal wet loose activity. One glide crack has started opening. You can read the observation here.  Conditions in the Baker Backcountry were similar, but there has been a large glide avalanche failure (near Huntoon Point) and a glide crack also opening. A handfall of small wet loose avalanches have been reported on steep sun-exposed slopes in recent days. The 12/24 crust may be closer to the surface in wind-scoured areas.

Temperatures rose above freezing around noon on 12/29 and have remained above freezing ever since. We think this may have re-awakened snow that never fully refroze near the bottom of the snowpack. 

Moving forward, cloudier conditions and gradually cooling temperatures should generally reduce the wet avalanche problems with the glide problem more likely to linger into Thursday. If you see a brown frown, don't expose yourself to the steep slope below. When a crack fails it takes the entire snowpack with it. If you find moist or wet snow surfaces, you could still trigger a shallow wet loose avalanche in steep terrain, particuarly clouds are slow to move north.