East Slopes South

Variable travel conditions will likely be your most significant mountain hazard on Thursday. Look for breakable crusts, wet sloppy snow, or firm surfaces on alpine slopes. You may even still find dry snow lingering at the highest elevations, so keep an eye out for recent wind loading and signs of instability like shooting cracks. 

If you blink, you might miss the light rain and snow showers associated with the weak front moving over the region Thursday morning. Look for decreasing clouds and another day of challenging travel across the East-South.  

On Saturday evening, a storm brought 6-12 inches of snow across the East South. Most of the precipitation fell as snow, but unfortunately, the storm ended warm with rain. Since then, observers across the region have been reporting variable travel and a breakable crust extending to upper elevations. 

We are uncertain about the current rain/snow line across the East South, but it's likely somewhere around 6500-7000 ft. The bigger question is how this new snow bonds to the old snow surface above these elevations. 

Once you start noticing dry snow at upper elevations, the best policy will be to ease into the terrain slowly and have an assessment mindset as you move through the terrain. Look to see how the new snow is bonding to the old snow surface. You can use hand pits or snowpack tests to gauge how reactive the slab is. Also, watch for blowing snow or signs of recent drifting. Textures like dunes, ripples, and pillow-like slabs can help you identify potentially problematic slopes. 

Lower elevations have really struggled to build a meaningful snowpack so far. On Saturday, I traveled across the East South to scout access points and found very little snow at the Ahtanum Meadows SnoPark. Moving west, I found a deeper, more usable snowpack at Bumping Lake and along SR 410. 

Observations have been sparse since the recent storm, so if you get out, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation.