Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Moderate northwest winds have been actively transporting snow on Mount Shasta. Expect to find wind slabs in specific terrain near and above treeline on leeward, west to south to east aspects. Identify this hazard by observing for shooting cracks, collapsing and hollow drum-like sounds as you travel.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate to strong northwest winds over the past 72 hours have been busy transporting snow onto leeward aspects. With that being said, the wind event has mostly run its course and we don't expect further wind slab development to occur. 

    It is possible to trigger an avalanche where wind slabs above the December 30th crust are dense, and at higher elevations where the crust is thinner. The layer of concern is located just beneath this uppermost crust. Here you will find fist hard snow approximately one foot down from the surface. Assess this layer interface for instability as you travel in the backcountry today.

    Manage this problem by avoiding avalanche terrain, looking for signs of instability (shooting cracks, collapsing, and blowing snow), and travelling on wind scoured slopes on the northwest side of the compass.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday, riders on Gray Butte triggered a small avalanche roughly 6-8 inches deep, that ran on the aforementioned December 30th crust. A slide of this caliber may not be enough to bury you, but could very well carry you into rocks or trees.

Most of the new snow from earlier this week has found its final resting place. What remains to be blown around has lost its propensity to bond to the existing patchwork of sastrugi, wind-skin and isolated areas of exposed ice crust. Sledders beware, there is a hard, icy glaze on select moraine tops in Old Ski Bowl. While this is not an avalanche problem, they could cause you and your snow machine to take a rapid backwards slide.

Backcountry travellers can take advantage of the improved visibility today by noting existing snow surfaces ahead of the incoming storm on Saturday. Doing so will leave you with a better understanding of where the new snow may accumulate on potential weak layers, such as a thin rime crusts or "wind-skin".

Regions covered