East Slopes Central

Avalanche problems

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Likely

  Size

  1–2

  While only a few inches of snow fell over the weekend, the westerly winds were consistently strong and drifted snow over ridges forming stiff wind slabs on lee aspects. While most of these may be small and becoming more difficult to trigger, you could still trigger an avalanche in lingering pockets. You can find these wind slabs on the down-wind side of ridges, below cornices, and peppered in the alpine. Cornices, textured surfaces, and smooth pillowlike features are all ways to identify wind slabs. Before committing to steep slopes in wind exposed areas, look for signs of instability in small test slopes, such as long shooting cracks. Steer around these stiff drifts of snow where they exist on slopes greater than 35 degrees. If you find yourself traveling at higher elevations on shaded slopes ( N-NE- E), consider the consequence of a wind slab stepping down into a deeper buried weak layer and producing a much larger, destructive avalanche. 

  

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Possible

  Size

  1–1.5

  It will be a sunny day in the East Central zone on Monday. While there isn't much new snow, a healthy dose of sunshine and warming temperatures will likely lead to small wet loose avalanches in steep, sunny slopes. Cliffs, rocks, and tree bombs are often where these avalanches initiate from, so be aware of overhead hazard from steep sunny terrain. If you feel the snow beneath you becoming sticky with wet surfaces in the sun, move to lower angle or shadier terrain. 

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Unlikely

  Size

  2–2.5

  In the East Central zone, there has not been an avalanche on this layer since before the MLK storm. However, it has been less than a week since a skier triggered an avalanche on this layer at Stevens Pass. While it is becoming increasingly unlikely to trigger, there is still some uncertainty, particularly about this layer's spotty, inconsistent distribution and reactivity. We expect that N-NE-E aspects at elevations above 6000ft, in open terrain sheltered from wind, are the most likely locations to find this layer. But even targeting these locations throughout the zone, layer distribution has proven to be spotty. Use snow pits to identify this layer 1-2.5ft below the surface and look for a thin gray line of feathery, buried surface hoar grains. The best way to handle the uncertainty of these dangerous avalanches is to put a wide buffer between where you travel and large steep features. You can reduce your exposure by traveling on ridges or slopes less than 30 degrees.