East Slopes Central

As you gain elevation, start to look for signs that wind drifted snow might be unstable, such as blowing snow, uneven snow surfaces, and a change to denser-feeling snow underneath your equipment. If you see any of these and also experience shooting cracks or recent avalanches, find more sheltered terrain to recreate in.

A happy Christmas to those who celebrate! We were really hoping we'd get a big fat dump of snow as a gift, but someone must've been too naughty this year...

A NWAC forecaster traveled up to 5500 ft around the Salmon La Sac on Wednesday and did not observe any blowing snow or signs of instability. Alternatively, another NWAC forecaster traveled up to 5900 ft on Dirtyface and did. What do we make of this? Elevation gain! The forecaster in Salmon La Sac noted that the snow was only beginning to dry out enough at 5500 ft to be moved around by the wind. This is a clear indication that you should pay close attention to snow moisture as you enter the higher alpine. The snowpack that you start your day in might be significantly different than what you plan to ski or sled later on. 

On that topic, be on the lookout for snow that has weakened due to warming lower down. The first signs of deterioration are roller balls, pinwheels, and big chunks of snow falling from trees. If you're getting rained on or can get mushy snow moving downhill on a small test slope, maneuver around steep slopes where a small avalanche could catch and carry you over rocks and cliffs.

Much of the zone now has a snowpack that deepens appreciably starting around 4500 ft. Some data points at middle elevations show an average depth of 53-76 inches. The Lyman Lake weather station (5990 ft) at the very northern end of the zone reads a depth of 100 inches. Although we have no data to verify, the East North zone has consistently gotten much more snow throughout the season, so it wouldn't be out of the question for there to be that much snow up north in this zone. If you plan to travel near the border of the East North zone, consider checking the zone's forecast before heading out.

Lower elevations and areas further east in the zone are still relatively shallow, and skiing or riding off the road is still tricky. Especially in these areas, watch for shallowly buried rocks, trees, and high-flowing creeks. These hazards can appreciably increase the consequences of getting caught in even a small avalanche.

Accessing terrain can be quite arduous due to widespread damage from recent atmospheric river events. Be prepared to be turned around due to road closures, washouts, mudslides, or downed trees. Many thanks to any and all folks out there who have been helping clear roads and trails.

State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the impacts of destructive storms that occurred earlier this month. We can help by respecting affected communities, complying with road closures, and adhering to ski area uphill travel policies.