Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Bottom Line

Skied in the Western Wallowas over three days from 2/5-2/7. The storm that came through earlier in the week produced almost 1.5' of snow above 7,500'. This new snow fell on a melt/freeze crust that had formed the previous week. Winds had picked up after the storm and a wind crust had formed in the alpine on E-N-W aspects above the tree line. We found the ingredients for a persistent slab avalanche problem: bed surface and weak sugary snow on E-N-W aspects Above, Near and Below Treeline.

On 2/6 it was warm (above 32), but even on aspects gaining cohesion, we didn't observe any natural slab activity. We felt the sugary snow above and below the 1/20 crust was gaining strength, and we didn't experience any collapsing or shooting cracks.

The only natural activity we observed was Wet Loose on SE-S-W aspects above and near treeline, up to Size 2 on 2/6.

Overall the snowpack structure seemed to be improving and with the warm weather forecasted for this week, the snowpack should strengthen.