Eastside Region

LOW avalanche danger persists. Widespread firm and variable conditions continue to be the greatest backcountry hazard. Mostly cloudy skies and slightly warmer temperatures today will lead to variable amounts of surface softening dependent on aspect and elevation.

Day-time highs should again be modest and average for January reaching into the low to mid 30s around 10,000’. This combined with mostly cloudy skies and a light to moderate breeze should keep slopes from softening anywhere-near hazardous levels. That being said, some small loose-wet sloughs may be possible to trigger at low elevations in steep rocky SE-S-SW facing terrain if things warm up and soften more than expected.

The greatest hazard by far continues to be widespread firm and variable surface conditions.  Expect to encounter challenging riding conditions just about everywhere but the most sheltered northerly facing trees. Ski and/or boot crampons, and an ice ax or whippet could be essential in even fairly mellow terrain. Practice using these tools before entering consequential terrain.

For some, the hunt for elusive spring-like soft snow continues on solar aspects. While for others, contentment is found with the reliable soft faceting snow in sheltered northerly facing trees, despite these areas becoming more and more tracked out. Oh January, will you please give-way to some new snowfall soon? 

Lots of variables effect how the snow goes thru its daily warming and cooling cycle on aspects that face the sun. With such middle-of-the-road weather forecasts lately, it has been hit or miss finding that moist soft surface snow that’s known to put smiles on faces. Ideally, overnight temperatures are cold and skies are free of clouds to allow for a good solid deep refreeze of the snow. Then during the day temperatures rise, the wind is calm, and the skies are clear allowing the sun to soften the snow on  east, then south, then west facing slopes. The more extreme the temperature rise, the shorter the daily window of good supportable soft surface snow is before it gets saturated, unsupportable and potentially dangerous for wet slides. We have been far from that dangerous realm for awhile now, and more in the realm of slopes getting barely softened enough. Lately with such variable amounts of clouds and winds, and a wide-range of low and high temperatures across our forecast area, finding a softened slope at just the right time is more luck than an art or science. That being said, slopes that face more south at relatively lower elevations have been somewhat more predictable.