Elkhorns
Avalanche danger
Highlights
Lack of new snow and mild temperatures have minimized avalanche concerns. Use normal caution in large consequential terrain and prepare for challenging travel conditions.
This forecast is sponsored by Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.
Avalanche Discussion
The Elkhorns have been largely excluded from the modest precipitation totals received by the eastern half of the Wallowas. While a squall or two is not impossible today, new snow accumulation is not forecasted, and temperatures have remained stubbornly close to freezing at most elevations.
While the snowpack is generally well settled, facets have been observed near the ground in locations where snow from October and November was not completely saturated by rain. These snow grains are notoriously weak and can avalanche when they receive rapid, large loads such as several feet of new snow. The spatial distribution of these facets, particularly the ones directly above the ground, is worth tracking. Currently, the snowpack above these grains contains enough ice that it remains incredibly unlikely for a human to affect this layer, however, should you venture into very high alpine terrain where a thinner, weaker snowpack may exist, consider avoiding shallow rocky areas or high consequence slopes until these grains have had more time to bond. The higher and colder the slope (think north facing terrain), the more likely they are to exist. If you find yourself with the time to dig to the ground in one of these areas, let us know what you find...
New resources for 2026
- Blog post on 12/29: What to share as a recreational observer
- Avy App. It can save the forecast for offline use and store field observations that upload automatically when back in service.
Avalanche Courses: The WAC offers avalanche education tailored specifically for both backcountry skiers and snowmobilers. Check out all of our courses here.
Observations: Submit an observation here. Let's paint this picture together. An observation can be just that- a picture and where it is. It doesn't have to use any technical wording or snow nerd acronyms. Just explain where you went and what you saw (or if you did not see avalanches). Submitting observations through the Avy App has made it incredibly easy for forecasters and recreational users.