Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Clearing skies will bring a chance for triggering wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes. Watch for signs of instability like rollerballs and natural wet avalanches. You may still be able to trigger avalanches in lingering wind-drifted snow at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Watch for small wet avalanches as the skies clear. These avalanches could be consequential where you find 6 inches or more of soft surface snow that is becoming moist. There may not be enough snow below treeline for any true hazard. Watch for rollerballs or fresh, wet avalanches as indicators that you could trigger more. You can limit your exposure by moving to more shaded aspects and lower-angled slopes.

    (4/4/2023) Wet Loose debris in Trout Creek area Photo: Willie Webster

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    We expect most of these avalanches to be shallow. Above 6000ft, there could also be older, larger wind slabs that formed on Saturday and Sunday. The most likely locations to trigger a wind slab will be in alpine terrain near steep, rocky ridgelines and confined gullies. If you see large pillow-like drifts, shooting cracks, or the snow feels hollow beneath you, simply travel on lower-angle slopes or steer around these wind-loaded features

    (4/8/2023)

    Large avalanche from a human triggered cornice fall on Saturday.

    Photo: Mission Ridge Ski Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Access in the East North zone is difficult and observations are sparse. We have significant uncertainty in the forecast. Be prepared to make your own assessment.  If you're out in the mountains, submit an observation and let us know what you see.  

Observers reported natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches, up to D1.5, that occurred between 4/9-10.  While most of these avalanches would be inconsequential, some very steep, smooth rock faces may still have lingering glide avalanche concerns. If you see a big frowning glide crack in the snowpack on steep, smooth terrain, give yourself a wide berth around these unpredictable avalanches. 

On Tuesday, 4/4, Willie Webster took an aerial tour of the zone and produced remarkable images of the current snow cover and recent avalanche activity. Notable were a couple of older avalanches, including a very large natural slab avalanche on a NNE aspect of Silverstar Mtn and a natural glide avalanche on Hinkhouse Peak. On March 30th, Willie reported large debris piles on Harts Pass. The road was melting out quickly near Deadhorse Pt. He found a mix of sun crusts on the surface, though higher elevations looked to hold a cold, layered snowpack. 

Regions covered