East Slopes South

Enjoy one last day of generally safe avalanche conditions. Some filtering sun and increasing clouds may contribute to some minor wet snow issues on sun-exposed slopes, but low snow coverage will likely be one of your most significant hazards. 

Friday is shaping up to be a transition day for East South. Enjoy the one last day of sunshine ahead of the next front that arrives on Friday evening. Saturday will bring a significant change in weather and spike in avalanche danger. 

Across the East South, you’ll generally find shallow conditions at many mid and lower elevations, which a few excellent observations highlight. Once you climb 5000 ft, you’ll find a deeper and more layered snowpack, especially near Bumping Lake and SR 410 which was favored during the last storm system.

The extended high pressure this past week left its mark across the zone. Backcountry travelers and avalanche professionals report a crust on most solar aspects (SW-SE), while shady slopes (N-E) continue to hold good riding conditions. In these areas surfaces have gotten quite weak from the clear days and chilly nights, consisting of near-surface facets and patchy surface hoar. An NWAC forecaster highlighted this on Wednesday in the White Pass area (Obs here).  

While surfaces are weak, the big question will be if they survive the incoming warm start to the storm. With snow levels soaring up 8000’ at the start of the storm, we suspect this should help flush these weak grains into the rivers, but it will be worth tracking as the storm moves closer. 

During this period of low danger keep some things in mind:

1). Wet loose avalanches: We have seen little evidence of wet loose avalanches in recent days across the eastern zones. However, I'd still use caution if you travel across steep, south-facing slopes near cliff bands; these are typically the first areas to shed snow. Watch for rollerballs and deep boot penetrations as warning signs. 

2). Wind slabs: While most of these slabs are well-aged and glued into place, still use caution in upper elevation, alpine terrain that promotes drifting. Pay attention to snow texture and depth, and consider giving wind-loaded pockets a quick test before committing to steeper features. 

3). Early season hazards: Regardless of elevation, numerous obstacles still exist. Rocks, logs, bushes, and creeks all make travel a bit more challenging. 

If you get out, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!