Mt Hood

Dangerously slick and icy surfaces demand the same careful analysis you typically apply to avalanche hazards. Assess your ability to navigate a slope safely before risking a long, uncontrolled fall on a steep slope. On the upper reaches of snow, isolated pockets of older wind-drifted snow could remain reactive in extreme terrain.

Mt. Hood is badly in need of a refresh, but cold, dry weather persists. Temperatures have taken a rollercoaster ride the latter half of this week, dropping form the upper 40s to the teens at middle elevations on Mt Hood. Temperatures rebounded into the mid-20s Friday afternoon and crusts remained firmly frozen around Mt Hood. Expect more of the same much of the day on Saturday but with temperatures a few degrees warmer. This will increase the likelihood of some softening surfaces on lower elevation S and SW aspects in the mid-day and early afternoon hours.

The snowpack has endured a serious beating with the warm temperatures and strong winds from this past week. Most W-S-SE aspects received significant sun, so these slopes should have a crust moving forward. N-E aspects above 6500 ft are a mixed bag of wind-packed snow, scoured ice, sastrugi, and softer, faceting snow in the most sheltered-shaded pockets.

While the avalanche danger is LOW that doesn’t mean no danger.

Wind Slabs: Most pockets of wind drifted snow are long in the tooth and unreactive. However, strong NW winds on Thursday may have wrapped around the mountain in various ways, redistributing small amounts of snow into thin slabs on shaded N- E aspects at the highest elevations. These small, isolated slabs could be consequential in extreme terrain, where they may pop off the underlying firm surfaces and could send you into a long, sliding fall. Look for stiff textured pockets to help you identify these wind-loaded features. 

Long, Sliding Falls: The slide-for-life conditions will be your most significant mountain hazard around Mt Hood during this period. If you head out into exposed terrain, be sure to pack the 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 and wind scour in the past days. 

Riding with control: This will also help you avoid an injury where frozen "death cookies" litter the slopes. Recent warm temperatures shed debris off rocks and trees. That debris refroze in ways that poignant language from the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol. You might also find breakable crusts on lower elevation shaded aspects or in the trees.

Normal Caution: Avalanche conditions are generally safe, but still practice safe travel and carry avalanche rescue gear. Expose only one person at a time in bigger, steeper alpine terrain.

Let us know what you see. Submit an observation here.