East Slopes Central

Expect cooler temperatures and strong winds at upper elevations with more sun further east. The snowpack should begin to refreeze, and a few inches of new snow may accumulate in mountains near the crest. Use normal caution, and travel accordingly.

We're settling into a cooler, stormy pattern with the potential for more snow to make it over the crest into next week. For Wednesday though, only a few inches may make it into the areas near the crest. Strong winds may buffet the alpine terrain. Keep on the lookout for the right ingredients for small, shallow wind slabs if you do venture up into the higher terrain near the crest. Shooting cracks and actively blowing snow are a couple signs to look for. 

It is spring, and any new snow is likely going to melt quickly, especially if the sun comes out. Keep an eye out for signs of wet loose activity such as rollerballs and wet, sticky snow. Steer around steep slopes if you find new snow to be warming and able to turn into wet loose slides.

The recent combined stretch of mild weather created weak, wet and saturated snow in many areas. The snowpack should begin to refreeze, and this should greatly reduce any potential for avalanches. If you find an unsupportable and punchy snowpack, or you sink deeply into wet, rotten snow, then stay off steep slopes nearby. It's been several days and nights of mild weather, and the snowpack had been melting. There was a smattering of wet snow-related avalanche activity from March 21-29th. Observers completing the Rock Mountain Traverse on Tuesday heard and saw large (D2) natural avalanches in Crescent Lake Bowl. These were from steep SE facing terrain in the alpine. Last Sunday I rode at Blewett Pass and found a saturated, unsupportable and nearly fully transitioned snowpack with minimal surface refreeze.