Presidential Range

Avalanches are unlikely today, however variable weather from snow, freezing rain, rising temperatures, and rain have the potential to create various mountain hazards today. With freezing rain in the morning, steep snow surfaces may become slick from ice, you will need a mountaineering mindset and tools, including crampons, ice axes, and helmets to prevent a fall on steep terrain.

Mountain hazards like firm surfaces and long sliding falls should be top of mind this morning as freezing rain could add a layer of ice on snow surfaces. Steep snow slopes, like Summer Lion Head Trail Traverse, are areas where your safest travel will include the use of ice axes, crampons, a helmet and skilled footwork to prevent a fall. 

Later in the afternoon, temperatures are forecast to rise well above freezing for all elevations so this layer of ice will likely soften into a slush layer with continued rain. The extreme winds forecast today may limit some of the surface softening, making snow surface assessment critical as you move throughout steep terrain today.

Previous warming and fog have eaten away at the snowpack, exposing rocks and trees which could amplify the consequence of a fall. Knowing what is below you will be important as these hazards can make more areas no fall zones.

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation on our website or in the new Avy phone app of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.

SURVEY: For years, the avalanche community has worked to understand and address the human factors that influence decision-making in the backcountry. With decades of research as their foundation, Sara Boilen and Ian McCammon are developing an open-source tool to help individuals mitigate risk in avalanche terrain. The project's first stage involves interviewing backcountry recreationalists who have been traveling in avalanche terrain for at least one season. All participants will be entered to win amazing raffle prizes (from Jones Snowboards, BCA, and more!). If you’re curious about being involved, please take 1-2 minutes to fill out our basic initial survey!