Mt Hood

Firm crusts remain your greatest concern, so ensure you can arrest a fall before crossing a steep icy slope. Softer dry snow reported at lower and middle elevations or sun-warmed corn present more appealing riding conditions. Although the calendar reads January, maintain awareness regarding springtime hazards.

Most elevations have experienced above freezing temperatures for 8 days and counting. Temperatures peaked January 13th and 14th, but have only dropped into the 40s at middle elevations. Although the temperatures are unusually warm, the snowpack is adjusting to the spring-like weather. Many sun-exposed slopes have formed thick crusts (1" thick) and the sun doesn't appear to have the strength to grow these crusts any thicker. There was no new avalanche activity reported on Mt Hood this weekend and we appear to be in a holding pattern.

There are subtle changes going within the upper snowpack. On N-aspects, the balance of incoming and outgoing radiation remains net negative, meaning that the upper snowpack is cooling. The diurnal fluctuations at the surface are weakening thin surface crusts on N-aspects and riders are reporting recrystallized powder on shaded slopes at lower and middle elevations. Sun-exposed aspects transitioned to corn during the mid-day hours. Such was the case at Bennett Pass on Sunday.

We're expecting minimal avalanche activity again on Monday. The sun is unlikely to have the energy to break through the crusts. In case we're wrong, and you sink into sloppy wet snow past your ankle, expect the potential for natural or human-triggered wet avalanches on a steep slope. If you find these conditions, shift to shaded aspects and reduce your exposure to slopes 35 degrees and steeper.

Icy and slick snow surfaces have been reported throughout the region in recent days, including on Mt Hood, and particularly during the morning hours. Keep the potential for long, sliding fall hazards on your mind until we get more snowfall. Make sure to have the proper traction and be ready to arrest a fall. Snowpacks have also continued to retreat on sun-exposed aspects, so plan for early season conditions despite the calendar date.

A snow pit in the gallery from a middle elevation ENE aspect on Mt Adams is likely to be representative of similar elevations and aspects on Mt Hood. Before our warm-up, 20-30 inches of snow fell over the stout January 3rd crust.  We saw a few large to very large natural avalanches that likely ran on or above this crust during the stormy period on Jan 6th-8th. Since the storm ended, avalanche activity was mainly confined to wind-drifted terrain, but these slabs are now unreactive. The upper snowpack remains heavily wind-affected. Backcountry travelers were previously finding a strong, well-bonded snowpack to the underlying January 3rd crust. This crust may be starting to weaken and will be worth tracking ahead of any future storm cycles.