East Slopes South

While generally safe conditions exist, that doesn't mean it's impossible to trigger avalanches. Small wet slides are possible on very steep sunny slopes, and in extreme alpine terrain, there may be small pockets of unstable wind-drifted snow. Practice safe travel techniques and group management to reduce the consequences of any small avalanches. 

The snowpack has had some time to adjust to the recent snow and wind loading. However, near and west of the Crest received more snow, and you could trigger a wind slab if you are traveling close to the western edge of the border between East south and West South. The most likely locations to trigger wind slabs will be in alpine terrain, on terrain features such as very steep slopes below corniced ridges, the base of cliffs, confined chutes, and gullies which are all prime trigger spots.

It will likely be another sunny day on Thursday, with warmer daytime temperatures. So small wet loose avalanches may run on steep southern terrain. Look for rollerballs and pinwheels as initial signs that wet avalanches are possible. These slides typically initiate from snow shedding off steep rocks or tree bombs hitting steep slopes with wet surfaces, so keep an eye on the type of overhead terrain you're traveling beneath. 

The recent warm temperatures and sunshine melted snow surfaces, which are now refrozen and presenting challenging travel conditions. So anticipate slippery melt-freeze crusts and refrozen "chunder" under the forest canopy.

The MLK crust remains a prominent marker in the upper snowpack. Last Wednesday, NWAC forecaster Joe Dellaporta found this layer 1-2' below the snow surface. While some weak snow is associated with the crust, snowpack tests where they traveled did not produce propagating test results. The weakest snow associated with this interface (rounding facets)was on shaded aspects (NW-N-NE) above 6500 ft.