Fresh snow and wind will create wind slabs today. Look for cornices, pillows, and drifts for clues as to where these slabs are forming. These slabs may be forming on top of buried weak snow which could increase the size of any avalanche triggered. Avoid slopes over 30 degrees that are being loaded by the wind or if you have doubts about the underlying snowpack structure.
This forecast is sponsored by M. CROW – M. Crow (mcrowcompany.com)
West and North West winds with fresh snow will build new slabs today. These slabs could form over buried weak snow. If you find dense snow over softer snow on a slope greater than 30 degrees the potential for an avalanche exists.
Isolated areas in the Northern Wallowas hold the potential to trigger a large avalanche failing on weak snow that sits under a slab. New wind slabs will form today increasing the likelihood of finding one of these avalanches. Here is what I would recommend looking for to avoid this problem:
-Shallow snowpack areas (less than 4 feet of total snow). Using your probe to determine snowpack height through your travels will give you a good idea of the changing snowpack depths across different aspects and elevations.
- Areas that harbor a stout crust with weak snow around the crust and a slab above. Might have to bust out your shovel and look at the structure of the upper few feet of the snowpack. If you see this type of snowpack structure, my advice would be to stick to terrain less than 30 degrees. Check out the recent observation from the Chief Joseph area here.
-Avoid trigger points when in terrain greater than 35 degrees. These include steep convex rollovers and rocky zones.
Avoid wind loaded terrain. Use small inconsequential test slopes to test the reactivity of wind slabs using your skis or machine. Where shallow snowpacks exist (less than 4 feet), it is important to avoid areas that hold a cohesive slab above sugar snow. Avoid trigger points such as rocky convex rollovers with terrain steeper than 35 degrees. Be aware of avalanche paths that may be connected to areas with shallower snowpacks.
A big thanks to all of the ski guides from Wallowa Alpine Huts and Eagle Cap Mountain Guides for your quality observations and collaboration that helps to build a more informed avalanche forecast.
