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RegisterJan 6th, 2016–Jan 7th, 2016
Mt Hood.
In specific areas, where the most recent storm snow has bonded poorly to the underlying crust, small human-triggered slab avalanches will be possible. Before committing to a slope, think about the consequences of the terrain if even a small avalanche occurred.
In general, the most recent storm snow overlying recently buried crust shallow and not thought to be especially sensitive to skier triggering. In specific areas, where the storm snow is more cohesive and poorly bonded to the underlying crust, small human-triggered slab avalanches will be possible. Before committing to a slope, think about the consequences of the terrain if even a small avalanche occurred. Note density changes in the upper snowpack throughout the day and as you change aspect and elevation.
Fair weather was seen for almost a week around the New Year. This weather caused lots of consolidation and stabilizing of the heavy snow from December.
By New Years Eve through the weekend moderate to strong east-northeast winds had significantly scoured or transported available surface snow onto lee west aspects, mainly in the near and above treeline elevation bands.
NWAC pro observer Laura Green was in the Newton Creek drainage Friday and found good skiing in non-wind affected terrain. Even on wind loaded slopes near treeline, the denser wind slab was bonding to underlying snow and no natural or skier triggered avalanches were noted. Significant wind loading continued to occur on the upper mountain Friday and to lesser extent Saturday.
Surface snow sculpted by wind and active wind transport. Photo: Laura Green
On Monday the Mt Hood Meadows pro patrol reported warming and a widespread 1 cm freezing rain crust up to 7000 feet.
Laura was out again near the Mt Hood Meadows ski area on Tuesday and reported 5 inch sensitive small storm slab on steep slopes of varied aspects in all 3 elevations bands. These storm slabs were releasing on the rain crust from Monday. Wednesday's morning control results from Meadows pro-patrol showed predominately shallow storm slabs less sensitive and not running as far as earlier in the week.