Bulletin d’avalanche

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
2 · Modéré
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré last year. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

The avalanche danger will rise throughout the day as warming temperatures and direct sun heat up steep slopes.   Consider moving off of steep sunny slopes if the snow feels wet and heavy or you are seeing naturally occurring roller balls/pinwheels.  Plan your route to avoid traveling underneath steep slopes that will be warming in the afternoon.  

This forecast is sponsored by the La Grande SnoDrifters Snowmobile Club. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    As warming temperatures and direct sun heat up the snow surface, wet loose avalanches will become more likely on steep slopes.  In the last 36 hours, sporadic snow showers produced 1-5" of new snow on top of a supportive melt-freeze crust.  These avalanches will be more likely and larger on slopes that hold the upper amounts of this new snow on top of a crust.  

    East-facing slopes will start heating up in the late morning and the sun will work its way onto southerly slopes, then westerly slopes by the late afternoon.  Observe how much new snow there is, look for clues to wet loose activity such as roller balls or pinwheels, and look for "point releases" out of rocky outcroppings or cliff bands.  Plan your travel accordingly to avoid being on or under warming steep slopes in the afternoon.   Expect any natural or human-triggered wet loose slides to run easily on the underlying crust.  

    Consider the results of getting caught up in even a small wet loose avalanche if it were to knock you off your feet and carry you over consequential terrain such as cliffs, into dense trees, or into a gully feature.

    (4/3/2025)

    This D1 wet-loose avalanche was intentionally triggered through a ski cut.  the 2-3" of warm snow slid easily on the underlying crust.  

    Photo: Tom Whipple

Avalanche Discussion

Freezing temperatures and mostly clear skies have helped the snowpack to cool overnight.  Any crusts that have formed will need to break down before wet loose avalanches become a concern.  Be mindful of slip and slide concerns over firm surfaces in the morning before the snow surface softens.  Consider carrying an ice axe and crampons if your travel plan takes you through consequential steep terrain that will likely be firm in the morning hours.  

In addition to wet loose avalanches, the warming temperatures and sun will continue to weaken cornices along ridgelines.   If traveling along ridgelines, give cornices a wide berth, and avoid hanging out underneath these looming monsters.  

Lingering pockets of older wind slabs may still lurk underneath corniced ridgelines.  While they will likely act stubborn to the weight of a rider, avoid recently wind-loaded slopes.  Look for the usual signs of wind slabs such as a rippled or stiffened snow surface, cracking around your equipment, and pillow-like formations downwind of terrain that has been blown clean.  

With limited observations this time of year, uncertainty is higher.  Please submit an observation here and chip into the community info-sharing.  It can be simple, short, and even anonymous.  Thank you! 

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