Elkhorns
Avalanche danger
Highlights
You are unlikely to trigger an avalanche today. The lack of recent snow and mild winds has created a well-settled upper snowpack. Anyone traveling in very steep (greater than 35 degrees) or exposed terrain should remain attentive for signs of instability in isolated locations.
This forecast is sponsored by Quickhatch Provisions of Joseph, OR.
Avalanche Discussion
Happy New Year!
Low danger does not mean triggering an avalanche is impossible. Anytime you are recreating in avalanche terrain, including runout zones, keep your eyes and ears peeled for signs of unstable snow. Our forecasting zones are large, and we are often limited in our data points. Some days Mother Nature will be sounding the alarm bells, with natural avalanche activity, shooting cracks, whumphing, etc. Just because you aren't observing these clues doesn't mean the snowpack below you is strong. It's advisable to pull out your shovel and probe, dig around, and see what's beneath you. If you find strong snow above weaker snow, it might not be a problem today, but what about when the next big storm rolls in?
What we are tracking:
There’s little of note on the horizon as we begin 2026. Most of what we're tracking is already on the ground. Below 6000’, we still have a limited snowpack, but the middle and upper elevations have filled in, though there’s a lot of variability in the lower snowpack.
In some of our forecast areas, we've found a patchwork of rounding sugar snow (facets) in the bottom few inches of the snowpack. These are unlikely to be problematic beneath the strong 12/18 crust at this time, but future loading could make them an issue. We're also monitoring various melt-freeze crusts from December, including the 12/18 crust and the 12/26 crust. In areas where these crusts are 2-3” of solid ice, we’re confident in their strength. However, in places where the ice is thinner, with soft sugary snow in between, they could become a layer of concern as more snow increases the slab weight above them. At upper elevations, the 12/26 may not be a crust but rather just heavier, denser snow. If you encounter this or crust sandwiches, let us know where. Probing with a soft touch over a large area can be a useful technique.
New resources for 2026
- Blog post on 12/29: What to share as a recreational observer
- Avy App. It can save the forecast for offline use and store field observations that upload automatically when back in service.
Avalanche Courses: The WAC offers avalanche education tailored specifically for both backcountry skiers and snowmobilers. Check out all of our courses here.
Observations:
Submit an observation here. Let's paint this picture together. An observation can be just that- a picture and where it is. It doesn't have to use any technical wording or snow nerd acronyms. Just explain where you went and what you saw (or if you did not see avalanches). Submitting observations through the Avy App has made it incredibly easy for forecasters and recreational users.