East Slopes South

New snow and warming temperatures will create overlapping avalanche problems on Tuesday. Look for more dangerous conditions closer to the Cascade Crest and above 6500 ft. Travel and access remains challenging across the zone, so give yourself extra time to approach and exit the mountains during this period.

Tuesday will hopefully be the last day that we’ll need to talk about wet avalanche concerns for a little while. A system is expected to drop light snow across the zone, with higher totals near the Cascade Crest. By afternoon, snow levels will climb to around 6,500 ft, which means wet snow instabilities could pop up on slopes that pick up more than a couple inches of new snow. It’s been an exceptionally wet week, so don’t completely write off the possibility of larger wet avalanches until we see a solid refreeze. If your boots or track are punching deep into wet snow—or you spot glide cracks or chunks of snow clinging to steep rock—it’s time to dial things back and stick to mellower terrain, less exposed terrain. 

Once you climb above 6,500 ft, you may start seeing very different conditions.  Upper elevations, especially closer to Chinook or White Pass, could see more snowfall, active wind loading, and more challenging avalanche conditions. Keep your head on a swivel, especially around wind-loaded terrain—small avalanches can pack a big punch right now, thanks to all the early-season hazards that continue to plague our range. 

Access to continuous snow around the zone remains challenging. Recent observations report a 6000 ft snow line, with more significant depths above 6500 ft. Expect a bit of an adventure getting into the mountains right now.  Be prepared for washed-out roads, rough low-elevation travel, and numerous downed trees.

If you run into major access issues at popular winter entry points, do us a favor and send in a public observation. You can submit one here.