Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Expect generally safe avalanche conditions. Cool temperatures will greatly decrease the chance of wet avalanches. If you do happen to find areas where you're still sinking into a wet, mushy snowpack head for cooler, more supportable slopes. Watch for isolated wind drifts in very steep, upper elevation terrain.

Our last daily Backcountry Avalanche Forecast will be this Sunday, April 11th.

Hitting Reset

Temperatures are forecast to cool throughout the day as a cold front crosses the area. Lows in the single digits tonight will officially put wet avalanche concerns to bed (for the time being).

Yesterday, I found wet, mushy snow at low elevations and on steep slopes that faced the sun. I would have avoided steep terrain on sunny slopes later that afternoon when the liquid water content of the snowpack was near its peak. Similar conditions were reported by professionals in the Smokys and the Boulders. 

Following the peak of instability yesterday afternoon, the snowpack has steadily gained strength. Why? Because the liquid water content of the snowpack is decreasing as meltwater drains from the snow, or is refrozen into thick crusts near the snow surface. Wind, cloudier skies, and cold temperatures today will help keep surface crusts intact, or in some locations, make them thicker and stronger throughout the day. 

Unlike an average spring day when the threat of wet avalanches increases in the afternoon, today it's the opposite. If you're out and about early this morning, you may still be able to find snow that is warm and mushy. For example, temperatures near both Fleck and Banner Summits remained near freezing, and radiational cooling of the snow surface may have been further hampered by passing clouds. If you find areas with an unsupportable surface crust, simply move to cooler snow. Chances are, however, that most snow surfaces will already be locked up tight.

A skiff to an inch or so of snow is possible today. This, along with small amounts of snow available for transport may form thin, isolated wind slabs in the alpine. Yesterday, professionals reported isolated pockets of wind-blown snow on Galena Peak. On Tuesday they triggered an odd avalanche that failed on facets buried deep in a shallow, wind-affected snowpack (report). This problem seems to be focused primarily on the Boulder Mountains and potentially the White Clouds where the most recent snow has fallen.

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PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU:  We want to learn more about how you use the Forecast and our products. Kelly Rice-McNeil (Eastern Oregon University) and Victor McNeil (Wallowa Avalanche Center) are spearheading a project to understand how you use avalanche center products and, ultimately, to improve them. Help us help you by taking 10 minutes or so to fill out a survey. Teaser: there is a little SAC-specific questioning involved—please participate and get your backcountry partners, friends, family, and clients involved! Google Forms link:  https://forms.gle/YwgEwHRnT4ucSF226