Loose Wet
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Early in the week the Blue Mountains received anywhere from 2" to 3" of water. This meant rain at all elevations. There has been no hard freeze in our area mountains for the past four days. This has created a saturated upper snowpack and unstable conditions as a foot or more of heavy wet snow sits on top drier weaker snow. No hard freeze occurred last night and temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-30's throughout the day. Until we get a hard freeze, wet loose avalanches remain a concern at all elevations and aspects on slopes >35 degrees.
Another concern is the possibility of triggering a wet loose avalanche and the weight of that debris triggering a deeper wet slab avalanche. In the Blue Mountains, on protected north aspects below treeline, there are some weak layers buried anywhere from 18" to 2' deep. Take care to avoid steep slopes and areas in the terrain where a slab avalanche could be triggered like convex rolls, around rock outcroppings, and on unsupported slopes.
Avoid and stay out from underneath steep slopes. If you see large pinwheels and roller balls coming off steep rocky slopes or sink in above your boot tops when you step off your skis, boards, or sled you should lower your slope angles.
(3/2/2022)
The snowpack is inverted w/ heavier wet snow sitting on top of drier weaker snow. This creates unstable conditions. Be wary if you are sinking down over your boot tops.
Photo: M. Hatch