Mt Hood

Avalanche conditions are generally safe. Friday is shaping up to be colder and windier than past days, so expect very firm, slide-for-life conditions to persist through the day. Do yourself a favor by packing traction and a self-arrest tool for a safer, more enjoyable day out. 

A weak system will bring an uptick in wind speeds on Thursday night. Unfortunately, this system is mostly dry, so don’t expect to see much more than a few flurries around Mt Hood. The bigger message with this system will be the colder temperatures that follow it. Freezing levels are forecast to be in the 3000 ft range, which is significantly lower than in past days. So with that, expect very little or no surface softening on solar aspects like we’ve enjoyed in previous days. 

The most significant hazard moving forward will continue to be the long, sliding fall risk on steep slopes. It will be paramount to pack the crampons, ice-axe, and know how to use this gear properly before heading into exposed terrain. Two separate long, sliding fall incidents this past week serve as a good reminder of how slick surfaces are right now. 

At the higher elevations on shaded aspects (N-E), you might find a small, isolated wind slab. Observations continue to trickle in reporting dry, chalky snow on north-side routes. The Mt Hood Climbing Rangers even captured a photo of some blowing snow this past week on the Cooper Spur. The blowing snow also highlights the potential unknown on the upper mountain above our forecast area (8500 ft). Don’t assume the low danger applies to the top of the peak.

Even during long periods of high pressure, observations are key in producing a more accurate avalanche forecast. Let us know what you see by submitting a public observation here.