Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

New snow on a thick crust means new snow avalanches are possible. It is still possible to trigger an avalanche breaking 2-3' down in the snowpack. You are most likely to encounter these overlapping avalanche problems from 4000'-6000'. Avoiding terrain steeper than 30 degrees is advised.

This forecast is sponsored by Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Consistent light snowfall on a thick crust makes dry loose avalanches possible. These fan-shaped avalanches can take you off your machine or feet and put you where you don't want to be. It could be an uncomfortable ride grating on the firm crust below. You can use short steep slopes to test the bond between the new and old snow.

    With new snow, the possibility of storm slabs and wind slabs in areas exposed to the wind exists. Be on the lookout for these where new snow has accumulated on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

     

    (3/11/2023)

    Small dry loose avalanches.

    Photo: VM

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    We are still finding poor snowpack structure in the Blues, although it is unlikely you would trigger a persistent slab, it is not impossible. Triggering one of these slides would have serious consequences. The November/December facets are capped by a thick crust, rounded, moist, and beginning to bond but are still substantially weaker than the snow above and below them. This creates the recipe for an avalanche. Snowpack tests on 2/7 confirm this. 

     

     

    (2/7/2024)

    Column failed 100cm down where the saw is stuck in the snow.

    Photo: Nick Burks

Avalanche Discussion

The Blues finally had a week of mostly below-freezing temperatures. A thick crust has formed. That thick crust is now covered by 6-9" of new snow. Unfortunately, the snowpack structure is still weak and a persistent slab avalanche could still be triggered.  The snowpack in the Blues is thinner than the other forecast areas. Because there is less "insulation" between there surface and these buried weak layers it is possible to affect them even through the thick crusts.

The new snow brings with it the potential for storm slabs, wind slabs and dry loose avalanches. Avoiding avalanche terrain is the best way to not get caught in a slide. You can watch/read this observation for more details.

WAC Executive Director/Forecaster, Victor McNeil wrote this excellent Conditions Blog. It provides a great summary of conditions in January and what that means for the snowpack now in February.

 

 

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