East Slopes South

With the drip drop of new snow accumulations, keep looking out for small slabs of wind drifted snow just below exposed ridgelines. During periods of strong sunshine, new snow might weaken and cause small loose avalanches. Any small avalanche is unlikely to bury you, but consider the consequences of being carried downhill in any terrain you choose.

The Bumping Ridge weather station recorded another bit of precipitation on Tuesday, followed by clearing skies later in the day. We'll see pretty similar weather on Wednesday with upslope snowfall hitting areas close to the Cascade Crest and depositing small amounts of new snow. It won't be enough to increase avalanche danger, but there's usually a chance of wind slab formation on lee slopes following stormy weather. Take note of textured surfaces, freshly formed drifts and cornices, and blowing snow. These can all be signs that a small wind slab might lurk nearby. Older slabs formed in previous days may still linger and retain some sensitivity. As the skies clear and the sun comes out for periods of time, you may see natural or triggered loose snow avalanches. They could be dry or wet, but either way, if you're seeing chunks of snow falling from trees and cliffs, take that as a sign that conditions are beginning to deteriorate.

Widespread buried surface hoar has been observed in this zone and throughout others. Additionally, there is a complex crust/facet sandwich found within the upper portion of the snowpack. So far, all this new snow has fallen too incrementally and lacks the cohesion for these layers to become problematic. Will each new inch we get be what it takes to tip the scales? It's hard to say, but it wouldn't be a waste of your time to dig small hand pits and check the bond between interfaces. Buried surface hoar will show up as a "dull grey line" in the uppermost portion of the snowpack. Faceted snow is often characterized as "loose and sugary," and you'll probably find it just underneath a harder crust. Let us know what you're finding by submitting an observation to the website or AvyApp.

This return to winter is slowly improving travel conditions, but unfortunately for the East South zone, you still won't find enough snow for on-snow recreation unless you're at Sno Parks immediately adjacent to the Cascade Crest, such as Pinegrass or Bumping Lake. Even in these parts, low coverage abound especially at lower elevations and on southerly slopes. Many other hazards, such as downed locks, rocks, random holes, and open creeks, exist at all elevations. Give yourself some extra time and take precautions when riding in these conditions. Some hazards may be obscured by new snow.