West Slopes South

The avalanche conditions are generally safe, but the travel conditions are anything but. Expect a combination of supportable and breakable crusts in open areas, refrozen tree bombs in the trees, and perhaps some lingering soft snow on steep north aspects at the highest elevations. Travel below treeline off a well-worn path is slow and challenging, and the descent can be downright dangerous. 

Aside from a rouge 1/2" of snow at Crystal, the West South will see nothing but wind as a result of the weak system that passed through the mountains on Thursday. White Pass Pro Patrol reported howling winds, but very little blowing snow, a testament to the current surface conditions. Crusts are widespread, even on northerly aspects up to 6500'. Hard coral reefs (refrozen tree bombs) in the trees are comingled with supportable and breakable crusts. Injury is a very real concern right now in the backcountry, even on a relatively benign looking slope. Despite sunshine on Friday, don't expect much change in the conditions. Steep south-facing terrain may soften a bit, but low sun angles and continued cold won't allow for much improvement in the conditions. If you do decide to go out on Friday, factor in extra time for both the up and the down and move cautiously through the terrain. 

Conditions on the volcanoes are especially firm. The slide-for-life conditions will be your most significant mountain hazard on sustained steep slopes on Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. If you take a fall on a steep slope, you may not be able to self-arrest on such a hard surface. If you head out into exposed terrain, be sure to pack your crampons, ice axe, and importantly, know how to use this gear properly. These firm surfaces will be widespread, especially on any slope that received sun softening in the past days. 

Due to the lack of snow available for transport, we don't expect any significant new wind slab formation from this system. The exception could be on lee slopes at the highest elevations. Sustained northerly winds on the volcanoes could blow the little bit of soft snow available in the upper elevations into a thin wind slab. This wouldn't be enough to cause an issue on its own, but if it knocks you off your feet in consequential terrain, the size of the slab wouldn't really matter. Even though avalanche conditions are generally safe, you should always practice safe travel techniques and only expose one person at time on any sustained slope over 35 degrees. 

It's going to be dry for a while and we will need a good snowfall to improve these conditions. Do a snow dance!