Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New snow sitting on top of a slick bed surface will increase the avalanche danger today.  Slopes greater than 35 degrees, with steep convexities, will be the likely trigger points for a loose snow or slab avalanche.  Use conservative terrain selection before poking out into steeper and more challenging terrain today.  The best snow conditions will likely be on lower angle slopes anyways.

Forecast presented by @onxbackcountry. onX Backcountry is a GPS  navigation and mapping tool designed with your backcountry objectives in mind, equipped with Avalanche Forecast and Slope Angle layers, Offline Maps and more.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    With the local SNOTEL sites reporting 8-12" of snow, and local riders reporting up to 15" in the past couple of days, the conditions have changed dramatically in the Northern Blues.  The new snow came in on the cold side, and cold temperatures last night will not help the new snow bond to the old rain crust from last week.  It will be possible to trigger an avalanche today, in terrain greater than 35 degrees.  Use conservative terrain selection and avoid steep convexities, especially those with bad runouts.  

    It would be very possible to still find slide for life conditions with the hardness of the crust that formed last week on steep slopes.  You may look at a slope and feel like it looks like pure powder bliss, and then have the rug pulled out from under you when you lose an edge.  

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    With cold temperatures overnight and below freezing high temperatures today you may see some dry avalanche activity.  These loose snow avalanches commonly start around rocks and trees, or in steep terrain features.  Getting caught up in a dry loose avalanche could still send you for a tailspin, especially with the firmness of the crust the new snow is sitting on.  If you see natural dry loose activity, it's smart to stick to lower angle and simpler terrain.  

    (12/29/2021)

    Dry loose on skin track to Hoffer Lake

    Photo: VM

Avalanche Discussion

Great riding conditions were reported by WAC Motorized Ambassador Brandon Christenson yesterday in the Tollgate area.  The High Ridge Snotel received over 1" of Snow Water Equivalent since the 8th, which equates to over 1' of snow.  Brandon said snow depths were consistently 12-15" deep where he was riding yesterday.  Today temperatures will again stay cold, and skies will be partly cloudy.  Light wind is in the forecast today, from the NW.  Unfortunately, if you don't make it out to ride today, the powder will be considerably less powdery by the end of Friday.  Temperatures and freezing levels are forecasted to rise, with highs into the upper 30s on Friday.  But hey, we are pretty used to that this season.  

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