Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

After many days and nights in the 40's- 60's, a cold front is arriving and decreasing the avalanche danger.  Most wet avalanches have already run, but a healthy dose of bad luck on a steep feature especially near treeline could result in a dangerous slab avalanche.  You can reduce your risk by avoiding convexities and steep slopes, especially near terrain traps like gullies or roads.  

This forecast is sponsored by M. Crow and Company General Store of Lostine, OR.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Liquid meltwater has trickled down, and where it meets a hard bed surface, such as a melt-freeze crust, it can act as a lubricant in a slab avalanche.  These are hard to predict but could be 1-3' thick.  

    Wet loose avalanches are unlikely, but a person pushing on a steep roll could still initiate one.  Rollerballs have previously occurred and would not necessarily offer warning.  

    (3/25/2025)

    The crown in the bottom middle of this photo distinguishes it as a natural wet slab, observed Tuesday.  Nearby wet loose and rollerballs are all red flags that likely came first.   

    Photo: Victor McNeil

Avalanche Discussion

Peak instability was Tuesday or Wednesday, and a cooling trend has now decreased avalanche danger, especially for surface problems like wet loose.  A hard refreeze tonight will further improve stability.  With melt water still draining through the snowpack, unpredictable results could occur.  Cornices are weak still and should be avoided.  

Few observations this week may suggest that most people skipped mountain travel.  For this reason, and with the nature of wet snow problems, confidence is lower in assessing the current instability.  

Please submit an observation here and help us reduce uncertainty.  It can be simple, short, and even anonymous.  Thank you! 

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