Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Primary hazards today are the shallow snowpack and variable surface conditions. Watch for rocks, logs and stumps, open water, firm snow, and refrozen old tracks. It's still a good day to get outside and enjoy the mountains with friends, before winter weather returns to the region late tomorrow. 

Normal caution

After a month of dry conditions, non-avalanche hazards have become our primary concern. Signs of life are in the weather forecast, as models signal that snowfall will arrive during the upcoming work week. Until then we have another mild and sunny day to get out and enjoy the mountains. Today is a good day to spend some time with friends practicing avalanche rescue. Keep your skills dialed, because once we finally get new snow things are going to get interesting  - unusual weather patterns create unusual avalanche conditions.

 A few non-avalanche hazards today include:

• Creek beds that are wide open or deteriorating snow bridges .
• Firm and fast conditions in the alpine make having your sharps kit for an alpine adventure advisable (crampons, axe, etc...)
• Warm daytime temperatures have exposed rocks, bare ground, logs and stumps, and open water. On warm slopes, rockfall has been occurring. 
• Wind exposed slopes near and above treeline have been scoured down to old, firm layers. 
• Avoid steep, firm slopes to prevent long falls and runaway equipment

Please consider submitting an observation using our website or the Avy app. This hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.