Douglas Island

The Easter Bunny unfortunately didn’t bring us enough snow to change the hazard; it remains low at all elevations. There is little change from yesterday in either weather or snowpack. Hazard will begin to increase overnight as a stronger low brings heavier precipitation, falling mostly as rain on Douglas. This heavier rain may penetrate deep enough into the snowpack to affect older weak layers, potentially adding wet slab avalanches to our list of concerns.

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Active weather will continue throughout the week, bringing more precipitation and borderline temperatures to the region. As precipitation increases alongside warming temperatures, the potential for water to cause failure at a buried weak layer or interface (AKA wet slab avalanches) increases.

With warming temperatures, this is the time of year to give cornices a wide berth. Wet loose avalanches also have the potential to step down into deeper layers of the snowpack.

As we enter spring conditions, it is important to continue practicing good backcountry protocols: ride slopes one at a time, keep eyes on partners, and carefully identify hazards, terrain, and exit routes.