Mt Hood

 Avalanche conditions are generally safe around Mt. Hood. The only place you could find some sort of instability would be in leeward, alpine terrain above 7000 ft that may harbor a few thin slabs of wind-drifted snow.  Your bigger hazard will likely be the widespread firm surfaces that currently exist at all elevations. It will be essential to have crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet before climbing or skiing in steep, upper-elevation terrain on Saturday. 

The snowpack around Mt Hood has endured a beating this past week with minimal new snow accumulations, strong winds, and fluctuating temperatures & freezing levels. This combination has left variable surfaces and very firm snow in alpine terrain. The best bet for softer riding conditions may exist on solar aspects (SW-SE) as the sun works its magic. However, keep in mind that softening may be limited on Saturday due to increased cloud cover and an uptick in wind speeds due to an atmospheric river to our north. Pay close attention to cloud cover, aspect, and timing if you search out some spring-like corn turns. 

While the avalanche danger is low this weekend, keep a few things in mind:

Wind Slabs: Yes, it's firm, but there are a few small slabs of wind-drifted snow if you look hard enough. The best chance to find these pockets will be on leeward aspects above 7000 ft.  In most areas, these have proven unreactive in the past days, but that may not be the case in all locations, especially in upper mountain gullies and chutes that face north and east. Feel for stiffer slabs of snow and look for cracking under your feet or skis. Any triggered wind slab could easily result in a long, uncontrolled fall on our firm surfaces. 

Long, Sliding Falls: This is the most significant hazard around Mt. Hood this weekend. Saturday will feature increased winds and potentially cloudier skies, so this combination may keep surfaces locked up on many slopes at upper elevations. Be ready for firm snow travel at all elevations with nearly impenetrable surfaces in exposed, alpine terrain. It will be paramount to have crampons, an axe, and a helmet for upper mountain objectives. Ski or board edges don’t penetrate ice well either, so know your ability and the snow you drop in on. 

Normal Caution: Continue to use best-practice safe travel techniques and carry avalanche rescue gear. As you travel through steep terrain, only expose one person at a time and re-group in safe locations. 

You can help us gather more data by submitting an observation HERE or via the Avy App.