Mount Shasta

Triggering an avalanche is unlikely today. Rocks and vegetation are the primary hazard. Be on the lookout for areas of thin coverage as you travel, especially in lower elevations, near and below treeline.

Yesterday in Old Ski Bowl and on Green Butte Ridge, Eric and I found no evidence of wind slab with minor amounts of snow available for transport. It is unlikely, but a rider may encounter a wind slab in isolated pockets of extreme terrain above treeline. Be on the lookout for whumpfs and shooting cracks in pillowy, lens shaped snow.

The storm on Monday and Tuesday brought up to 2 feet of snow above treeline. While it was unseasonably warm, it nearly doubled the total snow depth. The rain-snow line sat as high as 9,000 feet, making for a very saturated snowpack near and below treeline. Above this point, the snow surface provides soft and supportable riding, but don't let your guard down. Low coverage in all elevation bands requires vigilant route finding to protect to you and your gear from an ugly run in with a rock or stump.