Mt Hood

Triggering an avalanche remains unlikely on Wednesday. Your more significant hazard will be slick, refrozen surfaces and challenging lower elevation travel. Bring the crampons, a self-arrest tool, and pay close attention to your aspect and timing if you’re seeking sun-softened snow.

Its been over 10 days since Mt Hood has experienced precipitation and below freezing temperatures. Wet avalanche concerns have mainly run their course and generally safe avalanche conditions exist across the forecast area. While avalanches are unlikely, it may not be impossible to push a small wet loose in very steep sun-exposed terrain or see a bigger trigger, like a rock or cornice failure, trigger a wet loose during the heat of the day. A good example of this is this wet loose that occurred on Illumination Saddle on the 20th (observation here).  While this occurred above our upper elevation band, it serves as a reminder that wet avalanches can still occur in isolated sun exposed areas near cliffbands. 

Wednesday will likely be the last day to enjoy sun-softened slopes in alpine terrain as freezing levels begin to drop.  As we start to experience a gradual cooling trend in the coming days, your more significant hazard will be firm, refrozen surfaces. Long, sliding fall accidents occur every year on the Cascade volcanoes. You'll most certainly want crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet if you plan on climbing or skiing in steep terrain.  Keep in mind that sun-exposed slopes tend to be slow to soften and quickly creep into the shade in January. It will be critical to pay close attention to your aspect and timing if you're seeking corn o'clock. 

As you’d expect, the warm temperatures have left their mark on the snowpack around Mt. Hood. Our already lean snowpack has shrunk, especially around rocky sun-exposed slopes and on previously scoured ridges. East-South- West aspects have been through many days of melt and freeze, while northlies are staying locked up. Dry, faceting snow can still be found in isolated shaded areas or at lower elevations below the inversion. 

Getting to and from the mountains remains an early-season experience. Open creeks, rocks, and trees continue to plague the terrain and could easily exacerbate the consequences of a small avalanche or long, sliding fall.