Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Moderate winds out of the NW to SW the last few days have drifted snow onto NE-S facing aspects near ridgeline. You may be able to trigger wind slabs 1-2 feet deep could on a variety of aspects above treeline and mid-slope on the leeward side of ribs and gullies. One cannot rule out the possibility of triggering wet loose avalanches on steep south-facing slopes at lower elevations with daytime warming.

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Earlier in the week our area mountains received anywhere from 8-12" of new snow. This light density snow has been easily moved by moderate NW to SW winds over the last several days. The wind has drifted snow onto NE-S aspects near ridgeline and created pockets of reactive wind slab 1-2 feet deep. The wind drifted snow fell on a stout rain crust from last week, and in many places, has not bonded well. The variable nature of the wind has created wind slab pockets mid-slope and you should be wary of smooth pillows on the leeward side of ribs, gullies, rock outcroppings, and below cliffs. Avoid steep NE-S facing terrain, convex rolls,  and unsupported slopes where avalanches could be more easily triggered. Even a shallow wind slab could knock you off your feet, and combinged with the slick rain crust, will get the snow and you moving down the hill rapidly. The consequences could be severe. 

     

     

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    In most mountain locations temperatures below 6000' hovered at or above freezing. Temperatures today at lower elevations will climb to near 40 degrees. This creates the potential for triggering wet loose slides on steep solar aspects with daytime warming. Avoid steep south-facing terrain in the afternoon. Think of a ice cream. Specifically...think of soft-serve ice cream and harder scooped ice cream on a cone. Guess which one will drip and melt faster? The soft serve. With no hard freeze overnight and temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees yesterday the snow surface has remained in that soft serve state. With a little sun today and climbing temperatures you can expect the upper snowpack to become unsupportable and lose cohesion rapidly. The new snow from earlier in the week has not bonded well to the stout rain crust from last week. On steep slopes facing the sun, it will be increasingly likely for a rider to trigger a wet loose avalanche. While these slides may be small, the consequences are not. If taken off your sled or skis you could accelerate rapidly on the rain crust and be pummelled into trees, rocks, or taken over cliffs. The consequences for body and limb could be severe. 

Avalanche Discussion

There is alot of variability out there right now. North-facing terrain at upper elevations has been scoured by moderate NW winds earlier in the week. This has stripped the new snow off some steep slopes and exposed the slick rain crust from last week. In steep northerly terrain you may find cross-loaded pockets of reactive wind slab and five feet over be barely able to keep an edge on the slick crust. On southern aspects you can find similar conditions. I've been finding really great skiing and stable conditions on more protected and lower angle slopes below treeline. The good snow is not in the alpine right now.

In the Southern Wallowas, the temperature at 5500' this morning was in the mid-20's, whereas elsewhere they are mostly above freezing. Today the sky will be partly cloudy, and if the sun comes out lower elevation slopes facing the sun will lose strength rapidly. If you start to see roller balls, pinwheels, or sink down above your boot tops - then it is time to get off and stay out from underneath steep solar aspects.

Remember...that rain crust from last week still lurks. On steep slopes any loss of an edge could be dangerous.

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