Mt Hood

Gradual cooling will keep avalanche concerns at bay. Expect minimal sun-softening as temperatures cool and clouds filter in. Firm, icy travel will be your bigger concern, so be sure to carry the proper mountaineering gear and be mindful of the consequence of a slip in steep terrain. 

It’s been over 10 days of high pressure and warm mountain temperatures. This will start to change as freezing levels gradually drop on Thursday and Friday. This cooling trend should help put any wet snow instabilities to bed and increase the long, sliding fall hazard around Mt. Hood.

Long, sliding fall accidents occur every year on the Cascade volcanoes.  This will be a good time to pack your crampons, an ice axe, and helmet if you plan on recreating in steep terrain. Climbers will likely find more enjoyable conditions and then folks attempting to ski or ride as sun softening will become more limited across middle and upper elevations. 

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.

While low avalanche danger exists, continue to practice safe travel rituals such as only exposing one person to steep terrain at a time and carrying a functioning beacon, shovel, and probe.