Presidential Range

Widespread refrozen snow surfaces necessitates an ice axe, crampons, and the skills to prevent a fall for safer travel in steep terrain. Avalanches are unlikely, the greatest hazard you are likely to encounter today will be a long sliding fall on an uneven and refrozen snow surface.

Long sliding falls should be top of mind today. Snow surfaces yesterday on solar aspects had the potential to warm and soften from solar gain, unfortunately, this did not happen. Today, temperatures are colder and cloud coverage is greater, meaning that solar gain and softening surfaces are very unlikely today and not something to count on. 

Something that is written in many of our forecasts is “crampons, an ice axe, and the skills to use them”. While this may not be the day I would try to work on self-arrest skills for the first time, the current snow surface is great for cramponing. If you are looking to get out into the backcountry today, consider leaving your skis/board and take time to hone other skills as it is difficult to keep an edge while descending on an uneven firm surface. Look for small slopes that have low consequences if you were to fall and go from there. Confident footwork that prevents a fall in the first place is one of the best skills to hone in steep, mountaineering terrain. 

Looking ahead, things will improve, just are unlikely to do so today. Choose terrain with less consequence, work on other skills, or consider waiting for better conditions for a more enjoyable experience.

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation on our website or in the new Avy phone app of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.