Bulletin d’avalanche

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Alpin
1 · Faible
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 5 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Strong winds have stripped and redeposited snow onto east-facing slopes in the middle elevations, creating dense slabs capable of avalanching. Wind drifted slabs will appear smooth, textureless, and have a characteristic hollow quality as you walk on them. Although stubborn to human triggering, these isolated slabs could be up to 3 feet thick and able to bury a traveler in a large avalanche.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    With dry snow still available for transport, drifting will continue to load aspects on the eastern side of the compass. Where you notice abrupt changes in slope steepness you can likely find smooth deposits of wind hardened snow. Many of these slabs have been wind-pressed into the terrain and are becoming stubborn to human triggering. Adjacent to these slabs you may find soft snow 1-2 inches thick, or you may find an old pencil hard surface that has been scoured and dimpled by extreme wind gusts. 

Avalanche Discussion

Our wind influenced terrain has been sculpted by strong westerly flow and extreme gusts around 144mph, over the past few days. Sastrugi, a unique soft snow sculpture created by saltating winds, is now common across the landscape. This is a great indicator that snow has been transported by surface winds and placed irregularly on the terrain. Slabs of wind drifted snow, around 1 finger hardness and up to 3 feet deep, are readily available as potential start zones of avalanche concern. Avoiding these isolated locations will increase your margin of safety and allow you to make safer terrain management decisions.

If you choose to enter avalanche terrain today look for snowy banners streaming from the ridgeline and take notice where the snow is landing. A well thought out plan can help you move efficiently through the slopes and can be helpful for lessening your exposure to the arctic-like conditions we will be experiencing. Included in your trip plan should be some form of emergency preparation in the event of a worst-case scenario to yourself or those in your party. If you encounter USFS Snow Rangers riding snowmobiles please give them a smile, a wave, and move well over or off the trail for their necessary access up to Hermit Lake.

The Lion Head Summer Trail is now closed for the season due to avalanche risk. The Lion Head Winter Route is the preferred option to the summit.

Régions couvertes