Olympics

Winter has returned to the Olympics but low snow depth and snow cover are still limiting the avalanche hazard. Take it slow as you navigate barely buried rocks, stumps and open creeks.  

Winter returned on Wednesday night and Thursday with about 6" of new snow accumulating at the Hurricane Ridge weather station through 5pm.  NPS staff found the new snow layering over a new crust.  The bottom of the snowpack had not completely refrozen yet, meaning there was still a bit of a slushy mix at the bottom.  That will change with another day or two of below-freezing temperatures at mid and upper elevations, likely forming a stout supportable crust.  The new snow should bond well to the underlying crust.  There's not enough snow below 4500-5000' for reliable, continuous travel on snow. 

You may find isolated areas of shallow wind slabs at upper elevations where winds have drifted new snow.   Before you enter avalanche terrain at upper elevations, weigh the consequences of getting caught in a small avalanche and raked through rough terrain. 

Your biggest challenge will be low snow travel hazards like barely covered rocks, stumps, and open creeks.  Enjoy the return to winter and navigate the shallow snow depths and snow cover carefully.  A potent storm over the weekend will bring changing conditions once again.