Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Mon
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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In sintesi

Continued human-triggered avalanche activity warrants continued caution, especially in steep wind-loaded terrain. Clearing sky for the New Year will increase the chance of seeing slab and wet avalanches on solar aspects. You could find locally higher danger in areas experiencing full sun. Keep an eye on terrain overhead.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Wet

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

    Near-freezing temperatures and increasing sun will warm the 2-3' of new snow found across West North. This combination should set loose the first volley of wet avalanches for the New Year. The biggest question is how big they will get.

    Pay attention to slopes overhead and look for initial signs of instability like snow shedding from trees and rocks. Pinwheels or balls of snow rolling down the slope are also telltale signs of warming. If you see these it would be a great time to give a wide berth to slopes that face the sun. Though initially small, wet avalanches could grow in size or trigger a slab avalanche lower on the hill and run farther than expected. 

    Calm to light winds are forecast so don't count on a breeze to keep the snow surface cool. With the winter sun low in the sky you may be chilly in the shade at valley bottom while the slopes above you become balmy in a bad way. 

    Small loose wet avalanches like these are a sign to get off and away from solar slopes. Larger ones may not be far behind.

    Photo: Alyssa Young

  • Storm Slabs

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

    While new snow and wind slab layers often gain strength quickly, there is just a lot of snow out there and it deserves respect.  You are more likely to trigger avalanches on slopes with recent wind loading. It would still be wise to assess the bond of new snow layers before committing to any avalanche terrain - wind loaded or not. There is also a greater chance of triggering one of these avalanches on convex breakovers or other unsupported terrain features like hanging slopes above or around cliffs. It might also be easier to trigger a slab on a steep slope warming in the sun. When in doubt just pick lower-angle, planar terrain to start your new year. 

     

    (12/31/2022)

    A large (D2) human-triggered slab avalanche on Table Mt. on Saturday (north aspect @ 5000'). Wind loaded terrain produced deeper, larger avalanches but slabs were still triggered on many aspects regardless of exposure to wind.

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mountain Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

Another 16” of new snow in the Baker Backcountry paved the path for more natural and human-triggered avalanches to D2. A few larger avalanches occurred including a report of a very large natural avalanche (D3) on the White Salmon Glacier. No burials or injuries were reported despite a number of close calls on Saturday. In sheltered areas, avalanche crowns were about 1' deep but up to 2' deep in wind loaded terrain. Less snow, fewer signs of instability, and no avalanches were reported (as of Saturday at 6 pm) from around Hwy 542  and other parts of West North. With the weather pattern the last two days, the Mount Baker Ski Area and surrounding terrain picked up 2-3x more snow than anyplace else in the Cascades - where snow depths are monitored at least.

Solar aspects picked up enough sun to start shedding snow and should have a crust Sunday morning. Most aspects continue to hold very good riding conditions. Happy New Year!

 

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