Bollettino valanghe

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 6 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Fast and long running dry loose avalanches will easily be triggered in terrain steeper than 35 degrees today.  If you trigger one of these avalanches, it could easily knock you around or push you into consequential terrain traps such as into a gully, over a cliff, or into bands of dense trees.   Fresh sensitive windslabs will also likely be forming along leeward ridgelines as moderate west winds with strong gusts are forecasted for the Elkhorns.  

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Dry

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Fast moving Dry Loose Avalanches were easily triggered yesterday in terrain 35 degrees or steeper.  Expect to find the same today.  This type of avalanche problem type is predictable.  Manage this problem through your terrain selection.  It will be found on all aspects and elevations in terrain approaching or exceeding 35 degrees.  If you trigger a dry loose avalanche in the wrong location (top of a cliff, above a gully, or in dense trees)- a rider could easily be injured, buried, or killed.   The light density storm snow provides excellent riding on lower angle slopes.  Utilize small, safe, but steep test slopes to test the reactiveness of the new snow.  

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    With a plentiful amount of light density snow available for transport and forecasted winds ount of the West gusting up to 29 mph, wind slabs will be forming on leeward ridgelines today and will be sensitive to triggering.  Look for evidence of ongoing or previous wind loading such as pillowy looking drifts that may sound hollow.  Avoid terrain features that are likely wind loaded.   

Avalanche Discussion

The Elkhorns have received around 9" of new snow with 1" of Snow Water Equivelant since the Thursday morning.   We really like how this storm has brought us new snow to the area in light waves since Thursday.  The snowpack doesn't like rapid change, and this current storm system has been kind to the snowpack- so far.    Temperatures have stayed cold- preserving the excellent riding conditions and delaying the settlement of the snow into a cohesive slab.  As time proceeds, or with the addition of wind and additional snow- a storm slab or wind slab may start to form on exposed upper elevation areas.  Quick hand pits over a variety of aspects and elevations will give you a good idea of how the new storm snow is bonding and whether it is reactive at the old snow interface.  The use of safe test slopes will also give you a great idea of how this snow may be settling into a slab.  If you see shooting cracks, feel the snowpack collapsing, or see recent avalanche activity-  Choose less complex terrain with slopes less than 30 degrees.  

We are still watching some persistent weak layers (PWL) within the snowpack.  The most recent one is a facet/crust sandwich that was produced from the rain event on 1/12.  It varies in thickness and depth, but can be found around 2-3 feet from the surface.  You can continue to map this layer through probing for it..... You knew I was going to bring it up, so here it is- the Solstice Rain Crust is still there, but it is getting deeper and has a lower likelihood of being triggered.  It is likely around 4 feet from the surface and is capping weak sugary facets near the ground.  It would be more easily triggered in rocky shallow snowpack areas or where a slab above it is thinner.  

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