Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow yesterday and overnight has improved the riding conditions and made it harder to feel the thick crust that was formed on Monday 1/4.  Shallow storm slabs and wind slabs are possible today and could be sensitive to human trigger in steeper unsupported slopes.   The snowpack in the Blues is generally warmer, wetter, and stronger than elsewhere in the forecast region, but snowpack structure still indicates buried persistent weak layers deeper in the snowpack.  While these weak layers are becoming ever harder to trigger, there is still the possibility of a deeper "step down" should a snow avalanche start in the upper snowpack.   

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Shallow storm slabs are possible where new snow fell onto a melt freeze crust at lower elevations and solar aspects.  Check for the reactiveness of the new snow/old snow interface through the use of hand pits/test pits.  I would expect the bonding of this new snow to be better at mid and upper elevations on the northerly tilting aspects.  Check out what we are looking for when digging these hand pits in this video below.  Additional pictures show the layered nature of the upper snowpack above the Sosltice Rain Crust.   Use small test slopes with no consequence to test the reactiveness of these smaller storm and wind slabs. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    While a lower likelihood exists, I would not completely rule out the fact that in steep, unsupported terrain, on more northerly aspects in upper elevations, a persistent slab could be triggered by a person or machine.  This type of avalanche problem would be found where the SRC is thinner and weaker.  Probing around with a ski pole or avalanche probe is a great way to make a "mental map" of how thick the SRC is, as well as how deep it is in the snowpack.  Another great way to assess this is by examining how deep your boot is sinking into the snowpack.  If you are sinking up to your waist, you are more easily impacting the deeper persistent weak layers.  A persistent slab avalanche is more likely in these locations.  

Avalanche Discussion

Another round of new snow yesterday and last night brought a few more inches to the Blues that improved riding conditions.  Forecasters found a generally supportive rain/melt freeze crust from the event earlier in the week (Monday 1/4/21) that was buried several inches from the surface.  In many places along the mid elevation bands, there were several other slight melt freeze crusts (zipper crusts) in the upper snowpack.  While probing around the area, the stout nature of the Solstice Rain Crust (SRC), now found 2-3 feet/60-70 cms from the snow surface, makes one think that they have hit the ground with their avalanche probe.  However, pushing further down through the snowpack, you can feel the weaker unconsolidated nature of the snow layers below the SRC.   This is a great way to map the depth, distribution, and thickness of this layer that is generally adding strength to the snowpack in the Blues.   Check out the snowpack profiles from a couple different locations below.  

 

Regions covered