Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Over an inch of water fell throughout the zone, mainly as rain at mid and lower elevations. Towards the top of the upper elevation band, there's probably over a foot of snow, and it's possible that you can trigger an avalanche, especially in wind-loaded snow. Search out thicker, wind-drifted slabs and steer around them on steep slopes if you manage to make it up into the fresh snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    We're not quite sure how conditions at upper elevations are, as we don't have any recent data from this high. However, you can expect to find around a foot of new snow above about 6500-7000ft. Temperatures being as warm as they are, we expect the snow to stabilize quickly. By the end of the day we suspect slopes will be less reactive than early in the morning.

    The most reactive deposits will probably be in wind-drifted areas. Search out thicker-looking drifts, where the snow is heavier and more firm, which could be smooth or textured. You're most likely to find deposits in gullies, around rocky outcroppings or on the side of a ridgeline. Steer around suspect locations in terrain greater than 35°. If long shooting cracks from your feet or sled occurs, take these as obvious indicators to avoid steep slopes.  

    Example photo: A small human- triggered wind slab avalanche in Canyon Creek from a past year. Just beneath a steep roll is a likely location for you to find thicker, more reactive slabs. 

    Photo: Greyson Herdman

Avalanche Discussion

Much of the mid and lower elevations snowpack consisted of crusts, melt forms, and moist rounded grains before the recent rain event.  It is all mainly saturated, again. Since these elevations have already gone through a number of melt-freeze cycles and rain, we don't expect much wet avalanche activity to occur. If you find yourself easily punching into wet snow past your knees to the ground, it's still probably a good idea to steer around steep terrain. Although we expect any glide avalanche activity to already have occurred, if there are steep smooth slopes with smooth grass or rock at the ground, consider avoiding these areas, especially if you see large cracks in the snow above you. 

Forecasts are for fair weather Wednesday and Thursday, and we'll probably see a little sun. This means previously wet snow could get a shallow surface freeze and crust formation, although temperatures are staying fairly warm until Friday, when we're due for some snow. 

This slow start to the season means there's still plenty of open creeks, exposed or partially buried rocks, stumps, and chunky avalanche deposits out there for you to find. Prepare yourself for variable early season travel conditions. If you make it into the backcountry on Wednesday let us know how the conditions were by submitting an observation so we can be better informed about conditions in the zone. 

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