Professional Observation
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
April 1, 2021 - April 4, 2021Submitted:
April 7, 2021Observer:
WAC - Victor McNeilZone or Region:
Southern WallowasLocation:
Wallowas Traverse Norway Basin to Wallowa LakeSigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
GoodConfidence in Rating:
HighStability Trend:
SteadyBottom Line
Spent April 1-4 traversing the Wallowas from the Southern Wallowas to the Northern Wallowas. This was the same route I had taken a week prior. The strong winds from 3/28 had scoured the alpine, and there was a small dusting of new snow from 3/29. During the day the surface snow was warming due to diurnal heating, with a minimal nighttime freeze. On solar aspects below 7,500' the upper snowpack was trending to isothermal, but remaining locked up on higher elevation north exposures. There was minimal new wet loose activity, we did not observe and slab avalanches or cornice failures. It's a very different snowpack going into the high alpine above 8,000', especially traveling on N-facing slopes. The snow is starting to melt off pretty fast at the lower elevations, especially on solar aspects.
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