Olympics

The same avalanche concerns will be present all week as our streak of dry and mild weather continues.  Avoid lingering below glide cracks, beware of cracking cornices, and stay off steep slopes anywhere you find wet and punchy snow deeper than your ankle.  Variable surface conditions may make for difficult and potentially dangerous travel. 

Is it January? Temperatures have largely stayed above freezing the last 2 weeks with far more rain than snow recorded over that stretch.  Wet snow avalanches were more frequent earlier in the month when we transitioned from a dry, cold snowpack, to our current springlike pattern.   Melt-freeze crusts that form during clear nights are most likely to soften on steeper southerly aspects.  Glide cracks have opened up over this stretch and old cornices are sagging.  Over the last week, a few glide avalanches have been reported in the Hurricane Ridge area; a D1.5 glide avalanche was reported 1/21 on a N aspect and a small glide avalanche failed during the day on 1/20  (SSE aspect, 4600 ft), covering half of the Hurricane Ridge road. 

Adopt a spring mindset for travel in the Hurricane Ridge terrain this week:

1. Challenging travel exists during the morning hours at all elevations and may continue all day in areas where icy conditions persist.  Make sure you can self-arrest before crossing a steep slope, especially near terrain traps like trees, open creeks, rocks, etc.
2. Large cornices remain a hazard as warm temperatures continue to weaken them. Give them a wide berth while traveling along ridgelines and don't linger on slopes beneath them.
3. If you see glide cracks, much like cornices, avoid hanging out below them.  In isolated areas, the entire season's snowpack can release without warning.  
4. Wet loose avalanches are possible on steep slopes where the snow becomes wet and punchy.  If you find yourself sinking in deeper than your ankle, it's time to change aspects or move to lower angle terrain.  Small wet loose avalanches are most likely on steep southerly slopes.  They may become large on slopes if they begin to gouge down to older wet snow layers. 

2021-22 Forecast Schedule: Avalanche danger ratings will be issued for the Olympics every Friday through Sunday and during mid-week holidays. During the week when the Hurricane Ridge road is closed, forecast information will be updated daily to include expected conditions and relevant travel advice under the No Rating label.