Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Moderate winds out of the SW continue to drift snow onto leeward slopes near ridgeline. You may be able to trigger wind slabs 1-2 feet deep on steep easterly facing slopes above treeline and mid-slope on the leeward side of ribs and gullies. Loose dry avalanches may also be a potential hazard on steep south-facing slopes, especially in the Southern Wallowas and upper elevations, where the new snow will not bond well to surface crusts from yesterday's warm up.

Forecast presented by @onxbackcountry. onX Backcountry is a GPS  navigation and mapping tool designed with your backcountry objectives in mind, equipped with Avalanche Forecast and Slope Angle layers, Offline Maps and more.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The wind continues to drift snow onto easterly aspects near ridgeline creating pockets of reactive wind slab 1-2 feet deep. Moderate westerly winds combined with an additional 4-6" of new snow today will continue to load leeward aspects and keep things touchy in steep terrain. The wind drifted snow may not bond well to a stout rain crust from last week. 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-SE 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 combined with the slick rain crust, will get the snow and you moving down the hill rapidly. The consequences could be severe. 

     

     

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    The new snow we received overnight and expect through the day will not bond well to melt-freeze crusts formed from yesterday's warm up. On steep slopes that faced the sun, it will be increasingly likely for a rider to trigger a loose dry sluff or slide as snow totals increase. While these slides may be small, the consequences are not. If taken off your sled or skis you could accelerate rapidly on the recent melt-freeze crust and the entrained snow could step down to the rain crust formed a week and a half ago adding more insult to injury as you are pummelled into trees, rocks, or taken over cliffs.

Avalanche Discussion

The variable conditions continue...the lighter than expected precipitation totals mean you can still experience hard surface conditions on wind-scoured northerly terrain in the alpine and on south-facing slopes at most elevations due to a refrozen snow surface from yesterday's warm up. As snow totals increase today, 4-6" is forecast, you can expect moderate westerly winds to continue to drift and load east-facing terrain near ridgeline. Again, that stout rain crust from a week and a half ago still lurks and provides a slick bed surface for wind slabs to slide on. In my travels, I'd continue to avoid steep >35 degree east-facing terrain near ridgeline. In the Southern Wallowas below 6,000' no hard freeze occurred. So you are likely to experience soft snow conditions at lower elevations and gradually find stiffer surfaces and more new snow as you gain elevation. Keep an eye out for how the new snow is bonding to the old snow surface. If you are seeing instability move to lower angle terrain.

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

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