Be wary of traveling on or under steep terrain at or near ridgelines today and tomorrow. Expect to see potentially reactive windslabs in these zones on leeward facing terrain.
Dry loose avalanches were evident and widespread yesterday in the Elkhorns on terrain steeper than 35 degrees. I suspect we might see similar conditions in the Southern Wallowas today. On large steep slopes it would be easy to trigger a sluff that could entrain enough snow to carry a recreationalist into trees,over a rock band, or into a nasty gully.
Wind slab formation was observed in the Southern Wallowas during last week's snow event that dumped about 18" of snow in the Norway Basin area. Strong southerly winds last weekend added more snow to the existing windslabs especially at or near ridgelines. Although a few days have passed since that wind event I would expect to see these potentially reactive, unstable pillows of snow, especially on leeward facing terrain in the alpine and at ridgelines.
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