East Slopes North

Avalanches are unlikely, but not impossible. Many large cornices loom on ridges, and if one fell, it could be big enough to kill you. Don't linger under or on cornices, and stay alert to the potential for wet snow on steep, sunny slopes. 

While unlikely, consider the possibility of a cornice fall or loose wet avalanches. Don't travel on or linger under cornices. They're currently big enough to kill you on their own, and they could also trigger a larger avalanche. If you see rollerballs, recent avalanches, or weak, wet snow, move to lower-angle or more shaded terrain.

Temperature inversions have kept slopes above 6,000ft mostly above freezing for over 5 days. Weak sun angle and radiational cooling of the snow has maintained a stout surface crust even where temperatures are warm. Cold air has been steadfast in the valleys. 

On the 16th, professionals reported that there was dry snow above 7,500ft where the rain/snow line hovered on the 12th. Due south, upper-elevation slopes remained firm and frozen. On the 14th, an NWAC forecaster found the surface crust was frozen and dry, but not fully supportive of boots. The upper snowpack, while moist, hadn't undergone much change due to the small amount of rain. Travel conditions were decent for snowshoes, ok for snowmobiles, and very bad for skis, snowboards, and snow skates.

With good visibility, all of the recently reported avalanches and cornice falls occurred on or around January 12th. The widespread wet avalanche cycle included many large avalanches; mostly slabs, some triggered by cornices, as well as some wet loose avalanches. We suspect that many of the slab avalanches occurred on existing storm/wind slab interfaces from the week prior.