East Slopes South

The low danger in this forecast comes with uncertainty given a lack of recent observations. Spring has started in the ES zone, but a cold winter snowpack persists on shaded mid and upper-elevation slopes and below thick surface crusts on other aspects. Reduce your terrain selection if you see recent larger avalanche activity, experience the sun breaking down crusts, or encounter sticky snow on shaded slopes.

Most parts of the ES zone picked up a dusting to 2" of snow near and above treeline Sunday night with some light rain at lower elevations. Mild temperatures on Monday likely melded this new snow into thick existing crusts on W-S-E aspects. As recently as 3/18, observers near the border of the WS and ES zone found cold, dry snow near and above treeline on NW-N-NE aspects.

We're expecting plenty of sunshine on Tuesday. Isolated avalanche activity could occur as the impacts of the sun edge onto the north side of the dial, making the surface snow sticky and wet. The sun could also break down thick surface crusts if the sun stays out long enough. If you see evidence for either of these or if you observe piles of debris from recent larger avalanches, assume the danger may be locally higher than forecast and reduce your exposure to slopes steeper than 35 degrees. You might also find a spring transition at lower elevations where recent snow may not be freezing. If there's enough snow to ride, there's enough snow to slide; so make sure that you're either riding on cold, dry snow or supportable crusts as you engage with avalanche terrain.

In isolated upper elevation areas there could also be enough recent snow or wind to form a slab on a lee slope. Steer around steep features near ridgelines if you find textured snow or 6" deposits above crusts or less consolidated layers.

The image gallery depicts observations from the ES zone from the last 3 weeks.

If you get out into the mountains of the East South, let us know what you see by submitting an observation!