Boletín de aludes

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sat
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 5 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

This will be my last forecast for the season. 

Spring weather equals spring problems. You can easily avoid danger by paying attention to the sun and surface conditions. Avoid hanging out on slopes that are harboring large over-hanging cornices or deep cracks on warm days. If the surface conditions are starting to get real slushy and rotten, it is time to relocate to shadier locations and get off of steep terrain. Expect to see the surface of the snowpack loosen up and cause small wet slides on Friday, this activity should decline on Saturday with increased cloud cover.

Problemas de aludes

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1

    Temperatures were just starting to drop below freezing around daybreak. Without a good solid freeze last night we can expect loose wet slides to start a little earlier today and surface conditions may get a little on the slushy side today. Slopes above treeline were pretty hammered by the wind on Monday and left us with pretty firm condtions  on exposed peaks and ridgelines which will minimize loose-wet activity at alpine locations today.

  • Cornices

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–2

    With warm days it is time to pay attention to the looming overhead hazards. Cornice fall is unpredictable; but, pretty easy to avoid. If you are haning out on a slope with a magnum size cornice such as the one pictured, I would avoid doing it on warm days. All that mass creates alot of tension, warm days and thawing reduces its' cohesive strength. If there is an event that could actually cause one of our deep persistent weak layers to fail it is one of these cornices falling on a north facing slope.

    Large cornice developed above northerly facing terrain in Cabinets.

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Unlikely
    Tamaño
    2–3

    You will see some glide cracks out in the mountains on aspects facing the sun. Areas where there is a smooth bed surface below the snowpack (i.e.-bedrock or grassy slopes) is prone to developing glide cracks as the warm days cause water to percolate through the snowpack and lubricate the bed surface. Like cornices, these are unpredictable but easy to avoid. Look for an upside down U shaped crack, they are generally pretty easy to spot. Avoid slopes with these cracks on warm days and you won't have a problem.

Avalanche Discussion

Well, last forecast of the year and I am late due to some website issues this morning. But you aren't here to listen to  my excuses.

Lets' chat details for a second. On Thursday, April 1st we toured into the Cabinets and found some decent riding conditions thanks to the small shot of fresh snow that came in last Sunday and Monday. The strong winds scoured the southwest slopes at upper elevations a bit; however, southerly aspects are still pretty creamy and we saw very little loose-wet slide activity even on solar aspects. Poking onto north terrain we did find 4-5" of soft snow on the surface that should provide some good riding the next few days. Pit results on north aspects above 6,000' are still revealing some weaknesses in the snowpack at varying depths. There are a number of crust-facet combinations buried but none are resulting in propagation and it has been over 4 weeks since I have seen any natural activity on these layers. The consistent freeze thaw cycles and mild weather has given us a pretty stable snowpack at the moment, sunshine and thawing are the factors to pay attention to going into the spring.

Lastly, I want to give a big shout out to all of those that make this work possible and keep the ball rolling. My helpers Liz Figgins, Nate Stephens and G. Golden. My fellow forecasters in Idaho, Kevin, Eric, Jeff and Mellisa. Those of you who donate your time on the non-profit side to keep this platform alive, and last but certainly not least all of you who contributed funds, observations and feedback over the winter that helps us improve.

Thanks and see ya next winter!

Bernall

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