Blues

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist.  During the warmest part of the afternoon, there is a chance you could trigger a wet loose avalanche in rocky terrain greater than 35 degrees that is south facing.  Travel can be difficult on skis or a board when encountering firm snow surfaces.   

This forecast is presented by WAC partner onX  Backcountry.  onX  Backcountry is a GPS navigation and mapping tool designed with your backcountry objectives in mind, equipped with Avalanche Forecast and slope angle layers offline maps, and more.  

It's like a hometown buffet out there:  you can probably find something you like, but there's probably some snow surfaces that won't exactly tickle your fancy.  What has been excellent is the weather above the inversion.  Clear and calm days in the mountains coupled with a stable snowpack offer a great combination to get out and explore new zones.  If travelling on skis or a board, be prepared for firm snow conditions that could challenge your travel skills in places.  Make sure to have the correct equipment or choose a less consequential route if in question.  

Cornices exist along ridgelines and should be given a wide berth.  These can break back further than expected, especially during the warmest part of the day.  

Yesterday, observers in the Southern Wallowas found cold recrystallized snow in north facing terrain that had been sheltered from previous wind events.  We also found windboard and melt freeze crusts on southerly and westerly aspects in more exposed terrain.  There were two crusts that are worth keeping an eye on in the upper 10" of the snowpack.  We were seeing clean shears on weak snow that has developed around these crusts.  The reason this isn't a problem today, is because there isn't a cohesive enough slab sitting on top of these layers.  You can check out a video about what we found here.   

These times of high pressure offer a great opportunity to take a surface inventory to see onto what our next storm will deposit new snow.  Here's what we've been seeing. 

• Melt freeze crusts on Southerly and Westerly aspects will create a perfect sliding surface for new snow avalanches once we get a decent storm. 
• In protected shady terrain, observers are finding a weakening (faceting) snow surface and in low lying meadows large surface hoar has been observed even mixed in with some graupel snow (see photo below).  These surfaces will  be a weak layer moving forward once a load is introduced. 
• In the Western Wallowas and Elkhorns we will still be tracking the 1/6 rain crust that is now 6-10" from the snow surface in places- although you can see its shine on the surface where this snow has been blown clean.  
• The 1/20 crust that formed last week is either on the surface or buried 6" below the surface.  Observers have seen faceting snow around this crust.  This will be a weak layer moving forward.  
• There are also many places that hold wind stiffened snow deposited mostly on South and East aspects in exposed terrain near and above treeline.  

Let us know what you are seeing out there! Submit an observation here.  

Mark your calendars for the Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival.  Join WAC  February 5-6th at Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort for two days of festivities.  We are pleased to announce the return of the Kip Rand Memorial uphill/downhill race starting at 8 am on February 5th up at the ski area.  Participants can register for the race here.  After the race, we are offering two clinics starting at 10 am and 1 pm, taught by WAC staff.  More information on the events for the weekend can be found here.

Thanks to all of the local generosity, the return of the Online Auction is back!  All proceeds will help cover the cost of avalanche forecasting this winter Make sure to check it out here.