Bollettino valanghe

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Fri
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto last year. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

The strong wind event left lots of variable, icy surfaces and isolated slabs of drifted snow that may be sensitive to the weight of a skier or climber. Approach smoother pockets of snow in wind exposed terrain with suspicion and test to see how sensitive slabs are before committing to steeper routes. As the day warms, the hazard of triggered and natural wet avalanches will increase on low and mid-elevation slopes that hold soft snow. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    The extreme SW wind event from the 25th left isolated hard wind slabs in exposed terrain around Mt.Hood. While these may be isolated, they could be poorly bonded to the slick, underlying crust in some areas. You are most likely these slabs on leeward middle elevations or on features that often collect drifted snow at upper elevations, like gullies, lee-sides of moraines, and on aprons underneath chutes and couliors. 

    As you travel, be suspicious of steep slopes that hold smooth, often hollow-sounding, pockets of snow. Before jumping onto slopes with these types of smoother, stiff surfaces, do a quick snowpack test or use small test slopes to check how the slab is bonding to the old snow surface. Any triggered wind slab, would break as a blocky, hard slab and could easily ruin a day. Cracking, unstable test results, or drum-like surfaces are good reasons to head for lower-angled terrain or scoured surfaces. 

    Additional Discussion: With the warm temperatures, use caution around cornices. These will likely become more weak and able to fail as the day heats up. 

    (2/26/2025)

    While the stiff wind slabs were isolated, they weren't all that well bonded to the underlying crust yet around the Newton drainage. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    Many surfaces at middle and upper elevations around Mt Hood are scoured out and crusted over, which should help limit wet loose avalanche activity at these elevations. However, lower and some mid elevations do hold softer dry snow, which could produce wet snow instabilities as the day heats up.  Look for rollerballs and pinwheels shedding as clues of weakening surfaces. 

    (2/26/2025)

    Rollerballs on a sunlit mid-elevation slope at in the White Pass backcountry on Wednesday. You may see similar signs of warming on slopes with soft snow. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

The snowpack is indredibly spatially variable around Mt. Hood right now. The strong wind event that occurred on Tuesday unfortunately stripped many upper elevation surfaces around the mountain. While soft snow does exist at lower and mid elevations, its hard to come by outside of wind loaded features in the alpine. Equip yourself with crampons, an ice axe, and the ability to move over icy terrain before heading to upper elevations. 

If you're looking for softer travel, seek out more wind-protected slopes that face north or east or solar aspects as the sun works its magic in the late morning & early afternoon hours. 

Let us know what you see by submitting a public observation. 

 

 

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