East Slopes South

Avalanches are unlikely in the East South Zone. You may find minor wet snow issues on sun-exposed slopes, but low snow coverage and challenging travel conditions will be your greatest hazards. An approaching storm will bring increasing clouds and winds Monday and light snowfall by Tuesday.

The snowpack may not freeze very hard below 6000ft overnight Sunday with warm temperatures expected. Strong NW winds and increasing clouds Monday should counter the warmer temperatures and any sunshine though. Still take time to evaluate snow surfaces before committing to steeper terrain looking for wet, slushy snow. If you find yourself sinking in more than 6in, it's best to choose lower angle slopes. Remember that terrain traps such as valley bottoms, cliffs, or melted-out obstacles will all increase the risk of even a small avalanche. Also, be alert if you climb high into wind-affected alpine terrain, especially below cliffs, near cornices, and on rocky slopes where there is a low chance of encountering a shallow wind slab.

Most of the East South Zone suffers from inconsistent and low snow cover. The prolonged dry and warm weather of January and February really took a toll on the snowpack, and the atmospheric river 2/26 - 3/1 further deteriorated conditions. Much of the snow melted out to bare ground at lower elevations making access challenging in some parts of the zone. Similarly, shallow spots in the snowpack on more southerly slopes and near ridges shrunk, exposing rocks, trees, and dirt. Expect variable surface conditions and challenging travel. The snowpack does increase as you gain elevation, especially on shady northern aspects. For more information on how our current snowpack compares to seasonal averages, check out the most recent Climatological Snow Depth Report.