Quick report
It's a holiday weekend, we are powder-starved, the Wallowa County Gambler's poker run is happening tomorrow, and we have a pretty darn weak snowpack. Make a plan, check the forecast, communicate well, and keep things dialed back. There is always the option to just recreate in non-avalanche terrain. There is plenty of fun to be had on low-angle slopes and newly covered FS roads. Other hazards for the weekend include barely covered obstacles under the snow and super cold temperatures. Have fun, and be safe!
Poor snowpack structure. ECTP8 results in my pit.Weather
- Air Temp
- 8
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 50
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
COLD temperatures. Light snowfall during my travels with light and variable winds.
Snowpack
The 20" of Storm snow is sitting on a horrible foundation right now. Below the new snow are well-developed weak snow grains that are sitting on top of a harder melt-freeze crust that can act as a bed surface for a slab avalanche. Below that crust is more, perhaps even weaker snow. My observations were below treeline, but if you are traveling near and above treeline in the Northern Wallowas, I suspect it is an even worse setup where there is more snow and wind stiffened snow sitting above the weak foundation.