East Slopes South

Avalanches are unlikely in the East South Zone. The snowpack is strong but shallow with inconsistent coverage. You may find isolated wet snow on sunny slopes, but open creeks and challenging travel conditions will be your greatest hazard. 

The weekend looks to bring cold, clear nights and daytime highs in the upper 30s to low 40s. Northerly winds should be light to moderate and sunny skies are expected. As snow surfaces thaw on E-S-W aspects, there is a chance for additional wet loose avalanches, primarily in areas closer to the Cascade Crest that received more snow earlier in the week. Be on the lookout for fresh rollerballs and pinwheels, especially around rocky outcrops in direct sun.  Use caution if traveling in steep consequential terrain, and be aware of rocks, cliffs, open creeks, and other obstacles that can increase the consequences of being caught in even a small avalanche. If you are sinking deeply into wet, heavy snow, or snow slides easily off of small steep test slopes, it is best to stick to low-angle terrain. 

Most of the East South Zone suffers from inconsistent and low snow cover. The prolonged dry and warm weather of January and February really took a toll on the snowpack, and the atmospheric river 2/26 - 3/1 further deteriorated conditions. Much of the snow melted back to bare ground at lower elevations, making access challenging in some parts of the zone. Similarly, shallow spots in the snowpack on more southerly slopes and near ridges shrunk, exposing rocks, trees, and dirt. Expect variable surface conditions and challenging travel. The snowpack does increase as you gain elevation, especially on shady northern aspects. For more information on how our current snowpack compares to seasonal averages, check out the most recent Climatological Snow Depth Report.