Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You are most likely to trigger a Dry Loose Avalanche in steep terrain >35 degrees.  New snow sitting above a melt-freeze crust has the potential to move rapidly downhill in steep terrain.  Before committing to large terrain features determine how well the new snow is bonding to the old snow surfaces. 

It remains possible that you could trigger a large persistent slab avalanche in terrain >35 degrees near the treeline.  

This forecast is sponsored by Eagle Cap Mountain Guides.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1

    The new snow (light density), sitting on a crust from Sunday-Mondays warmup will likely move in steep terrain >35 degrees.  These Dry Loose avalanches may not be big enough to bury you but could push you into consequential terrain.  If you suspect there is a possibility of triggering a dry loose avalanche, avoid riding in terrain with hazardous runout zones, such as terrain traps, rocks, trees etc.  

    Dry Loose Avalanche: An avalanche that releases from a single point and entrains cohesionless snow as it fans downhill.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Isolated areas in the Northern Wallowas, Elkhorns and Southern Wallowas hold the potential to trigger a large avalanche failing on weak snow that sits under a slab.  To avoid this avalanche problem look out for shallow snowpack areas (less than 4 feet of total snow), trigger points when in terrain greater than 35 degrees (steep convex rollovers and rocky zones), and areas that harbor a stout crust with weak snow around the crust and a slab above.    

    Take a moment to read these observations from Chief Joseph Mountain and this report in the Northern Elkhorns by two of our professional observers.  Also in talking with a Pro Observer in the Southern Wallowas he reported finding two different layers of buried surface hoar down 55CM (2') and 100cm (3').  

    (2/16/2023)

Avalanche Discussion

Don't be surprised if you find isolated wind slabs above treeline today, with sporadic winds blowing from a multitude of directions in the past 24 hours.  Weather stations haven't indicated significant winds, but they shouldn't be ruled out especially if you observe dune-like formations, pillows, or see shooting cracks from your machine, skis or boards.  

It's always recommended to pay attention to the terrain above you, especially when complex terrain and significant alpine slopes are above you.  Consider the risk of triggering even a small dry loose avalanche and where you could end up if you triggered a small "sluff".  

While the chances remain unlikely to possible forecasters and pro observers are still finding poor snowpack structure in isolated locations near treeline.  Persistent weak layers can produce large avalanches and we are still finding buried surface hoar and facets around a crust in some of our snowpack tests.  You must dig down to determine the snowpack structure before committing to more challenging terrain.  Often times we don't observe Red Flags once these layers are more deeply buried, with a slab above them.  

 

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