Mt Hood

Firm crusts and long uncontrolled falls remain your primary concern in most terrain. Recent winds may have redistributed snow into very shallow slabs that could knock you off your feet in committing terrain at the highest elevations of Mt Hood.

By Monday, Mt Hood will be on the temperature rebound. Since last Thursday, cold temperatures have kept snow surfaces frozen solid. Dangerous, thick crusts abound on open slopes with breakable crusts lingering in treed areas and on higher-elevation shaded slopes. 

We're in for one more frigid start on Monday morning with a temperature inversion potentially bringing the coldest air to the lower elevations on the east slopes of Mt Hood. The most notable change from Sunday will be the warmer temperatures in the mid-day and afternoon hours when we might have sustained temperatures above freezing on parts of the mountain. This could help soften snow surfaces on SW-S-SSE aspects. These crusts might soften to the point of better riding conditions, but we don't expect the softening to result in any wet avalanches. 

A few points to keep in mind during this cold, dry pattern:

• Firm crusts abound and they remain your greatest travel hazard on Sunday. Long sliding falls can lead to serious injuries or worse. Make sure you have "sharps" and the ability to use them to arrest a fall if you choose to cross a steep slope. Factor in extra time to navigate the terrain when all aspects are firm and slick. 
• Recent warm temperatures shed debris off rocks and trees, creating frozen "death cookies." Keep it slow if you encounter this snow texture to avoid risking an injury.
• If you find the warming temperatures breaking down a crust, small wet avalanches become possible. Simply adjust to slopes experiencing less direct sunshine.
• Recent NNW winds have redistributed snow on the upper mountain. Look for stubborn pockets of snow overlying crusts or an old snow interface that you can pry off more easily with a shovel. You're most likely these slabs at the very highest elevations.  A recent observation from the Palmer Snowfield found very minimal snow transport on Sunday.
• While avalanche conditions are generally safe in other areas, taking the time to navigate around cornices and other terrain hazards.
• N-E aspects above 6500 ft are a mixed bag of wind-packed snow, scoured ice, sastrugi, and softer, faceting snow in the most sheltered-shaded pockets.

Let us know what you see. Submit an observation here. For those in the Hood River area, meet your forecasters on Wednesday evening and register here.