Elkhorns

Freezing temperatures have decreased the likelihood of large avalanches happening today, but continue to monitor the thickness and supportability of surface crusts and avoid steep terrain if you encounter wet, sloppy snow that is more than ankle-deep. Wet snow avalanches are unlikely but not impossible on steep slopes across multiple aspects. Overhanging cornices may be unstable, so give them a wide margin. 

Today's forecast is sponsored by the Wallowa County Gamblers Snowmobile Club.

If you are travelling in the mountains today, be prepared for variable snow surfaces, including very firm and slick conditions, as well as recently melted out obstacles like rocks and stumps.

Remember, low danger does not mean no danger. Cold overnight and daytime temps will help stabilize our snowpack, but it may not be enough to undo the effects of multiple days of above-freezing temperatures and many hours of springtime sun. Continue to monitor the snow as you travel and look out for the following:

• Large cornices along exposed ridgelines may have become weak during the latest warmup.  Give corniced ridgelines a wide berth, and minimize your exposure time if you must travel underneath overhanging cornices.  
• Wet-loose avalanches could still happen today on solar aspects in steep and rocky terrain. Avoid travelling on or below solar-facing, very steep, rocky terrain where wet-loose avalanches are most likely.  
• While unlikely, it is not impossible for a wet slab avalanche to occur today. Up until last night, even upper elevations had experienced 48+ hours of warm temperatures, causing melting to happen deep within the snowpack. Although the likelihood of triggering such an avalanche may be decreasing, the consequences could still be catastrophic. Be particularly cautious on sun-affected slopes, and if you see roller-balls, recent wet avalanches, or find yourself sinking into wet, unconsolidated snow, move to lower-angle terrain.

Timing and preparedness is critical in springtime adventures. Pre-plan your travel routes and have the right equipment for the expected conditions.  It is important to recognize that warmed snow surfaces can become firm and slick when they refreeze. Consider carrying crampons and an ice axe if you plan to travel over refrozen surfaces- especially in terrain of consequence. 

Let's paint this picture together.  Let us know what you are seeing out there through an observation.  It doesn't need to be complex or technical- just a few pictures and a description of what you encountered is super helpful to forecasters.  

Beacon Parks:  The beacon parks at Salt Creek Summit and Anthony Lakes remain a great resource to practice your companion rescue skills.  As the snowpack continues to melt, if you notice targets becoming uncovered, please get in touch with us so that we can remove them.