Mt Hood

Firm, icy surface conditions will likely be the greatest hazard you encounter. Be prepared to arrest a fall, especially in the morning hours and at upper elevations. As the snowpack thaws throughout the day, avoid cornices and watch for wet, slushy snow on steep sun-exposed slopes.  

The January dry spell has really taken a toll on the snowpack. The overall height of snow decreased by nearly 3ft at the Mt Hood Meadows Base weather station (5380ft) since January 5th. Many ridgelines are snow-free and steep rocky slopes continue to melt out. Travel conditions have been challenging recently, with firm and icy surfaces everywhere. But, with good timing on the right slope, you can ride smooth, soft corn by late morning or afternoon. Check out this observation for more information on conditions from Tuesday in White River Canyon.

If you plan to ski, ride, or climb Mt Hood this week, keep the following in mind:

1. Slide for life conditions exist during the morning hours at all elevations. Consider your ability to self-arrest and the tools you have to do so before traveling on an icy slope. 
2. Many ridgelines are melted out to the bare ground, and rockfall has been frequent in several canyons recently. Stay alert when traveling, and identify areas where you may be exposed to rockfall from above.
3. Some cornices remain a hazard with continued sun and warm temperatures. Give any remaining cornices a wide birth on ridges and don't linger on the slopes beneath them.
4. Many creeks have reopened and snow bridges continue to collapse. Take time to make a careful assessment if crossing any creeks.
5. The wet loose cycle has largely run its course. Any additional wet loose activity would be small human triggered slides in extreme, rocky terrain late in the afternoon. Monitor snow surfaces on sunny slopes as they thaw throughout the day, and move to shadier aspects or low-angle terrain if the snow is deep and slushy.

Warm temperatures and sunshine look to continue through the workweek. Normally, a significant and prolonged thaw like we are experiencing would have us concerned. However, there are several factors that have prevented an avalanche cycle this time around: 1) Long winter nights and generally clear skies continue to allow the snowpack to freeze hard by morning. 2) The low sun angle limits the duration and intensity of sunshine on snow surfaces, and a thick surface crust is slow to melt. 3) Two wet avalanche cycles and two weeks of predominantly above freezing temperatures have transitioned the snowpack to be able to handle more unseasonable warmth. For now, another spring-like day will create little change in conditions and avalanches will remain unlikely.