Avalanche forecast

Southern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

 

Persistent slabs on northwest, north, northeast, and east facing terrain at and below treeline is the avalanche problem we are most concerned about today. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully if you are considering recreating on any terrain steeper than 30 degrees. If you are unsure about the stability of that steep slope, move to low angle slopes less than 30 degrees where you will find abundant high quality recreational opportunities.

Today's avalanche forecast sponsored by Wallowa County Gamblers

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    We are continuing to monitor buried surface hoar buried as deep as 2' in our snowpack in the Northern Wallowas. This buried persistent weak layer continues to be reactive in snowpit stability tests. Extended Column Tests and compression tests continue to exhibit poor stability in the form of propagating test columns and Q1 shear quality results. Carefully evaluate mid elevation north, northeast,and east facing slopes on more protected and shady slopes for this layer. If you have any uncertainty in regards to the presence of a buried surface hoar layer, then increase your margin of safety by staying off and out from slopes steeper than 30 degrees. 

    (1/25/2023)

    A close up of what buried surface hoar looks like in a snowpit. Can you see the light gray line in this photo ? Surface hoar can be hard to see in certain lighting conditions. Surface hoar is a persistent grain type that causes a large percentage of fatal avalanches once it is buried in the snowpack, and we are seeing a lot of it throughout our forecast area.

    Photo: TG

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Moderate northwest winds accompanied by approximately 5"of  new snow is a good recipe for the formation of reactive  windslabs at ridgelines, in the alpine, and at treeline on leeward facing terrain. Be suspicious of any terrain at treeline or in the alpine steeper than 30 degrees that you are considering. Know that human triggered avalanches are possible in the terrain just described. Shooting cracks projecting from skis, hollow sounding snow, and observance of other avalanches are signs warning you of snow instability. If you are uncertain about any steep slope you are considering, do your recreating on low angle slopes less than 30 degrees.

    (1/10/2023)

    This photo was taken on a west facing terrain feature below treeline. The wind at this location was strong out of the southeast. The photo shows wind moving the snow, fresh cornice formation, and drifts and pillows on the leeward side of the ridge. These are all signs that windslabs are most likely present just down wind and down slope from the cornices.

    Photo: TG

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–3

    We are still seeing poor snowpack structure in our snowpack in the form of basal facets and crust facet combinations near the ground. These deeply buried persistent grain types are still failing in snowpit stability tests so the deep persistent problem is still on the table. The likelihood of triggering one of these very dangerous avalanches is low but the consequences of doing so would be dire and involve most of the snowpack. A deep persistent avalanche can be triggered on steep slope terrain where the snowpack is thin and rocky. The best way to manage the risk is to stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees, especially near shallow rocky areas.

Avalanche Discussion

The 11 Annual Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival is coming up.  Join us for our biggest fundraiser of the year February 3-5th. 

  • Friday, Feb 3rd: HQ in La Grande we are showing "Buried" the 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche.  Doors Open @ 5:30, Pie Auction 6:30, Movie starts at 7! Tickets are $5 at the door.
  • Saturday, Feb 4th: Kip Rand Memorial Race registerhere.  Winners will receive $100 cash or an Anthony Lakes season pass for 23/24.  Mens and womens division.   (You must show up 15 minutes before the race starts at the EOBF tent near the rental shop. )
  • Snow safety clinics 10 AM Avalanche Companion Rescue Clinic.  Register here.  
  • 1 PM Snowpack Observation Clinic.Register here.  Space is limited, reserve your spot.  (You must show up 15 minutes before the clinics start at the EOBF tent near the rental shop. ) 
  • Bag of Hammers 3 PM at the Star Bottle Saloon.  Live auction and raffle.  
  • On Sunday you can join the forecasters for a tour into Angel Basin.  Register Here.  

If you aren't able to make it out for the events you can support the WAC by purchasing raffle tickets or bidding on items in our online auctionhere.  The online auction and raffle will run from Jan 20th at Midnight to February 5th at 8PM.  

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