Presidential Range

You are unlikely to trigger an avalanche in today’s firm, refrozen snowpack. Crampons, an ice axe, and the skills to use them will be necessary for safe travel in steep terrain.

Expect to find a mostly stable and consolidated snowpack across the Presidential Range today. However, the snowpack and avalanche hazard are just one of many mountain hazards that need to be on any backcountry traveler’s radar. Refresh your knowledge on the most dangerous mountain hazards you could encounter during this time of year. Checkout our Springtime Mountain Hazards page for more info. 

Expect the snow surface to be dynamic and changing through the day based on elevation, time of day, aspect, cloud coverage, and sun exposure. Don’t assume conditions in one area are representative of conditions in another area. Recent cold temperatures have created slick, icy snow surfaces in many areas which require mountaineering equipment, care, and skill for safe travel. These areas could soften when exposed to the sun, but become a dangerous sheet of ice within minutes of being in the shade. Observations from the past several days (Obs 1, Obs 2,  & Obs 3) highlight these conditions along with the other springtime hazards. 

AVALANCHE OUTLOOK: A slow moving storm system will begin impacting the forecast area by Wednesday and continue through Friday. Snow totals could be in the 2-3 foot range for the higher summits if temperatures remain below freezing for the storm. Snow rates and high winds will increase late Wednesday into Thursday which will dramatically increase the avalanche hazard from its current LOW rating and likely an AVALANCHE WATCH will be issued. Plan ahead for this significant weather event and get the most updated avalanche forecast before making backcountry travel plans.  

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts. 

Help avalanche researchers! The Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Avalanche Research Program at Simon Fraser University, and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research are researching how skiers, snowmobilers, snowshoers, ice climbers, and anyone else who travels in the backcountry interpret avalanche forecast information. Completing this survey will take approximately 20 minutes. Thank you!