Wet Loose avalanches are likely at all elevations and aspects. If the snow surface becomes wet and you're sinking into the snow, conditions are ripe for wet loose avalanches. If you see these conditions, choose terrain less than 30 degrees and avoid slopes with terrain traps where these small but heavy slides could push you down.
This forecast is sponsored by Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.
It has been at or above freezing since Monday the 19th. As the day warms up expect wet loose avalanches. Look for rollerballs and pinwheels as clues that this problem is developing. If you're sinking up to your boot tops in wet snow, that's a sure sign wet loose activity is likely.
Photo: Nick Burks
Areas of the Blues still contain a poor snowpack structure. Weak snow sits below a very dense mid and upper snowpack. You are most likely to find this structure and trigger a persistent slab avalanche where the total snow depth is less than 3'. Avoid trigger points in the terrain including steep convex rollovers, rocky slopes, areas with lots of exposed bushes, and scoured areas where the snowpack is thinner.
(2/15/2024) Photo: Wallowa Avalanche Center
Temperatures have been at or above freezing since Monday the 19th. These warm temperatures will have consolidated the snow from the storm beginning on Valentine's Day. While they may be lingering storms and wind slabs these potential avalanches should be stubborn and hard to trigger. The main concern is for wet snow avalanches. Rollerballs and pinwheels on steep slopes or around rocks are the first signs this problem is developing. While these slides won't be large they are heavy and could carry you to places you don't want to be. If you see these conditions develop choose less steep terrain and slopes without consequences if you do get caught in one of these pushy slides.
The persistent slab problem continues to plague the Blue Mountains. There are weak layers toward the bottom of the snowpack that still remain a concern. Recreationalists should continue to be vigilant and seek out critical snowpack information to assess the reactivity of these deeply buried weak layers. If you lack the skills to gather this snowpack information you should avoid avalanche terrain.
