Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Avalanche conditions are generally safe except on isolated, wind-protected slopes where there is still a chance of triggering an avalanche. Watch out for areas of smooth, wind-drifted snow on east-facing slopes. Traveling on the hard, textured old snow surface instead of smooth, deeper snow drifts can help you avoid this avalanche problem.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Expect to find wind slabs at middle and upper elevations on northeast through south aspects and in wind-protected terrain features. Slab depth will be variable between 6 inches and 2 feet thick. Field observations support these slabs being stubborn and unreactive, but investigating stability and snow structure will be important today. In many areas, wind has scoured snow away and exposed the firm and generally stable old snow surface. 

    Watch for boot penetration in new snow that goes past your ankles and softer snow that has strong-over-weak characteristics. Watch for cracking in the snow that indicates instability. These are signs you may have found a sensitive wind slab. Traveling on hard, textured old snow surfaces is one way to navigate around this avalanche problem.

Avalanche Discussion

Reports from backcountry travelers yesterday in the Presidential Range indicate a trend towards stability. However, isolated instabilities may exist in steep ski and mountaineering terrain, especially where the snow has been more sheltered from the wind. Even with sunny conditions across the range, and warm conditions in the valley, upper elevation snow has remained cold where conditions are still winter-like. 

Safe travel today will require making slope-specific assessments to account for the variability in conditions and stability. This also applies to specific terrain features. The snow at the bottom of a gully may not be representative of the snow that is at the top the same feature. Traveling on the old snow surface to avoid the avalanche problem carries a separate risk of sliding falls where it may be impossible to self-arrest. Careful route planning that considers both of these hazards is important today but may be difficult due to poor visibility. 

 

The Lion Head Summer Trail is CLOSED due to increased avalanche hazard. The Lion Head Winter Route is OPEN and the most direct route to the Mount Washington Summit from Pinkham Notch. 

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.

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