Olympics

Early winter-time has not been kind to the snowpack in the Olympics.  Be prepared to navigate exposed dirt, stumps, rocks and open creeks at all elevations. With high freezing levels forecast over the next few days, you may see rollerballs or even a few small wet loose avalanches shed from cliffy areas. Avoid spending time below these features. 

Well things are not looking particularly wintery at Hurricane Ridge following 2 atmospheric events that featured more rain than snow.  The last event ended Dec 10th and since then it has been mild and occasionally windy, putting more of a dent in the local snowpack.  A weak front on Wednesday night brought less than inch of new snow at 5000' that melted off by the afternoon.  NRCS Snotels around 4000' show only a few inches of snow.  Continous travel on snow at lower elevations is likely not happening and at middle and upper elevations, is likely aspect and terrain-specific. 

Generally safe avalanche conditions are expected on Friday.  High freezing levels, mild temperatures and afternoon sunshine raise the risk for small wet loose avalanches to shed from steep rocky faces and cliffy areas.  Avoid hanging out below these features during our extended mid-December mild stretch.  For snow covered terrain, you may encounter a variety of snow surfaces including wet punchy snow, crusts of variable thicknesses, or even icy surfaces.  Be prepared for whatever you find and make sure you have the proper tools to travel safely. 

If you're out in the backcountry, share your observations with us and your local community.