Northwest Mountains

Avalanche concerns are small and straightforward to manage.  Warming temperatures and sunshine may create small wet snow avalanches by the afternoon.  Monitor surface wetness on steep, sunbaked slopes, particularly near rocky areas or low elevations where the snow surface may warm the most.  If you find a mushy and punchy snowpack move to a cooler aspect or lower-angled terrain.  An outside chance exists for you to trigger a slab avalanche on the north half of the compass on slopes with an abnormally shallow snowpack or in extreme terrain.

The Persistent Slab problem has become harder to trigger over the past week due to mild temperatures and a lack of recent loading yet the problem continues to linger.  Recent avalanche activity and observations suggest that shallower snowpacks on the north half of the compass represent the most likely place for you to trigger a dangerous slab avalanche.  A recent natural avalanche in Terminator Chutes on Saturday and a triggered avalanche resulting in a very close call near Snowmass on Monday highlight the issue.  An observer near Little Italian Pass (just a few miles northeast of Star Mountain and outside the CBAC forecast area) reported a rumbling collapse and shooting cracks on an alpine slope facing northwest.  Avalanches from early in the week and the rumbling collapse occurred in terrain with a seasonally shallow snowpack and/or wind erosion.  You can reduce your risk of triggering a slab avalanche by traveling where the snowpack is consistently deeper than 200cm (~ 6 feet) and by avoiding terrain with obvious trigger points.  The Persistent Slab problem is more concerning in the Southeast Mountains where the snowpack is shallower overall.

Wet snow concerns exist in both forecast zones due to seasonally warm temperatures and sunshine.  Wet avalanche problems are expected to remain small with this observation from Monday illustrating the current size and character.  Slopes with a dusty, brown surface or rocky terrain will warm faster and may produce larger wet loose avalanches due to increased melt.  Ideal conditions for riding have just enough softening for good turns, but the snowpack should remain supportive below.  If you find a punchy and mushy snowpack head to a cooler aspect or lower-angled terrain.  Conditions on the south half of the compass fit typical spring-time travel techniques.  By the early afternoon, you may want to shift to westerly terrain or head for cooler northerly slopes to avoid encountering Wet Loose avalanche conditions.

As meltwater infiltrates the snowpack, concerns for Wet Slab avalanches slightly increase.  An observation from near Snodgrass on Tuesday and Schuylkill Peak area on Wednesday suggests that easterly and westerly aspects below about 11,500 feet have meltwater draining into a winter-like snowpack.  Rocky, bushy, and/or dusty surfaced terrain often moves meltwater faster than open, white snow slopes.  Wet Slabs are difficult to predict and manage.  A good rule of thumb is to start your day early and move off slopes of concern before surfaces become mushy.  This isolated and unlikely threat will linger until cooler weather arrives this weekend and meltwater production ceases.