Bulletin d’avalanche

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Wed
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
1 · Faible
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 3 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Avalanche danger is limited to upper elevations, where you might still be able to trigger a large slab on the right slope. A breakable crust extends to about 6,000ft, limiting the avalanche danger below. Step out to higher elevations cautiously, looking for signs of instability like shooting cracks or whumphing collapses before committing.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The recent storm laid down 1-2ft of new snow, but it ended warm with light rain up to about 6,300ft near Washington Pass. Above the crust, you could still trigger large slabs on steep  terrain features. This is a great time to dig a snow profile. Look for weak layers in the snowpack, and test how recent layers are bonding. The storm snow may be resting on slick crusts and/or surface hoar in some areas. You can also use quick hand pits to look at layering. Small, inconsequential test slopes may also help when looking for instabilities like shooting cracks. Consider steep slopes near ridgelines with thick looking drifts or small cornices. Other features to identify for caution are mid-slope convex rolls, cross loaded gullies, and steep slopes beneath cliff bands. Steady winds drifted the snow into deeper slabs in some areas, so be observant of surface texture and feel as you travel. 

    Example small windslab beneath a cornice on Blue Lake Col from last season.

    Photo: Erin Andrade

Avalanche Discussion

Observers found a thin zipper crust up to about 6,300ft in the Cutthroat Creek area on Monday. Sunday was a warm and steamy day for the entire region, and obervers reported hearing and seeing natural avalanches as light rain and warm temperatures affected the fresh storm snow. The majority of the avalanches we have information on were in the small to medium range, and were mostly loose in nature though some slabs were identified. Check out Will's great ob and photos here.

With continued cooling temperature trend, most mid and lower elevation slopes should freeze solid and limit the avalanche danger to upper elevations. Be sure to carefully evaluate these upper elevation slopes as you travel. While the likelihood of triggering a slide is decreasing, it's also always a good idea to step into new terrain slowly. Don't commit to larger slopes before first seeing how the snow reacts on many small, lower-consequence slopes. We only have limited observations from the zone, and higher elevations warrant further investigation. 

If you got out, please let us know what you found in the mountains by submitting an observation.

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