Elkhorns

The likelihood of triggering wet loose avalanches will increase throughout the day as sunny skies and rising temperatures warm the surface of the snow.    Keep tabs on the supportiveness of the surface crust as it breaks down throughout the day.   When you find yourself sinking into ankle-deep wet and sloppy snow, it's time to find shadier and mellower terrain.  

Lower elevations have no rating due to the lack of a snowpack.   

Today will be our last daily avalanche forecast.  We will issue a general advisory on Monday, April 6th, and update observations/general advisories as needed moving forward through the rest of the spring.  

This forecast is sponsored by Fairway Home Mortgage- Teri Sue Champlin

You will likely encounter a surface crust on most aspects this morning.  Most surfaces are smooth from the recent storm and could provide fun riding as the surface crust softens throughout the day.     Wet Loose avalanche likelihood will increase with warming temperatures and solar input, so plan to avoid steep sunny slopes in the afternoon.  Yesterday, observers in the Northern Wallowas did not see any wet loose avalanches, but did see plenty of rollerballs on sun-affected slopes.  

A human-triggered large wind slab avalanche was reported on Friday on Lee's Peak in the Elkhorn Mountains (see photo below).  Luckily, nobody was caught, but it's a good reminder that sensitive wind slabs formed on Friday along upper ridgelines.  These wind-loaded pockets have likely become less sensitive in the last 2 days, but it will be best to continue to avoid wind-loaded features below corniced ridgelines and cross-loaded terrain features.   

The 6" new snow from last week sits on a 4-6" Melt Freeze Crust (April Fool's Crust).  Our concerns remain in the surface snow above the April Fools Crust for now, and you should get good feedback on instabilities by: 

• utilizing small, steep test slopes in the sun
• tracking how deep your boots sink into the surface snow
• observing signs of instability on steep sunny slopes around you.  

Cornices are large and droopy along many exposed ridgelines.  The warm weather and direct sun will continue to weaken cornices throughout the spring.   No matter which side of the cornice you are on- riding below them or traveling on a ridgeline next to them, give 'em a wide berth.  

If your travel plans include traveling in steep and exposed terrain in the morning, be sure to have the appropriate gear for firm conditions.  Ski crampons, boot crampons, an ice axe, and the knowledge of how to use such equipment are recommended for safe travel in the springtime alpine environment.  Learn about how you can reduce your exposure with the "spring diurnal" mindset here.   

Our snowpack is rapidly declining below 7,000 feet.  There are abundant patches of dirt appearing, and many creeks have opened up.  

Let's paint this picture together.  Let us know what you are seeing out there through an observation.  It doesn't need to be complex or technical- just a few pictures and a description of what you encountered is super helpful to forecasters.  

Beacon Parks: The beacon park at Salt Creek Summit snopark outside of Joseph, OR has been shut down for the season. The beacon training park at Anthony Lakes (across from the ski lift on Mud Lake) will remain open as long as there is enough snow.

Forecasting Season Ending April 5th:  Today, Sunday, April 5th, will be our last official Avalanche Forecast for this season.  We will publish a general advisory on Monday.  If a significant weather event impacts our region past this date, we may issue an update to our General Advisory Product.