Quick report
The most notable observation from the driving tour was the lack of avalanches. Even at the upper elevations, I could not identify any recent crowns. I could see some older debris piles off Big Slide in the Icicle River. But no long-running wet loose avalanches that flowed through gullies into lower elevations. This may be a testament to the thin snowpack even at upper elevations.
The second most notable observation was simply the amount of water, everywhere! Every creek, stream, and river is running at full capacity. Waterfalls cascade down the steep rock faces in the Enchantments, and portions of the Icicle River Road are even flooded.
The Wenatchee Mountains are very shallow, and you can still drive to nearly 5000ft on forest roads. While the snowpack is faring a bit better in the Icicle River Drainage, you'll still have to get to at least 5000ft before considering oversnow travel devices.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- light
- Rain Elevation
- 4500
- Recent Snowfall
- 10cm
It very much felt like the break between intense storms. There were plenty of sun breaks, but the clouds were never far off. Winds were light and temperatures were mild.
Snowpack
Below 4500ft, the zone is essentially back to bare ground. As you climb higher, a more robust snowpack exists, with an estimate of recreatable snow beginning around 5500ft. Cooling temperatures allowed some light snow accumulations down to about 4000ft. Despite the strong winds, I observed little to no wind-affected surfaces, and even cornices are small at the highest elevations.
Above 6000ft, coverage appears good, or at least close to normal for this time of year.