Yesterday, we took a wide-ranging snowmobile tour from town to 10,000 feet, the first good day of visibility all week. Temps were a bit cooler than the day prior. Clear skies in the mountains allowed for a full, above treeline look-see. Clouds and low fog filled the valleys. The recent warming event this past week with fog, light rain, and mist really did a number on the snowpack. It's quite variable out there with some soft, smooth turns possible in select areas, but also a lot of icy surfaces, breakable crusts, undulating sastrugi features and scoured ridges. It's the full smorgasbord, and not a very tasty one. Westerly winds were notable over exposed terrain above treeline. Gray Butte weather station has averaged 15 mi/hr wind speeds out of the west over the past 24 hours, with gusts to 37 mi/hr.
A couple old wind slab avalanches were observed off the east face of Gray Butte. These natural slides looked like they were triggered by a cornice failure above. The terrain is above treeline, steep, part of it a hanging snow field, and gets wind loaded during W-NW wind events.
Some small rock chunks were observed on lower angle terrain below Sargents Ridge.
All southerly facing, RIME plastered rocks will eventually shed their frosty coat, lobbing small to large chunks of ice (pretty much like a rock) down onto climbers below. This hazard should not be underestimated. Wear a helmet. Further, smooth and icy slopes present slide for life conditions on steeper slopes. Carry an ice axe and crampons. Know how to use them. Self-arrest is mandatory if one slips and falls.
Lower down on the mountain, melt runnels dominate the snowpack. Soft, mushy snow and crusts were observed.
A skier in Giddy Giddy Gulch reported decent, soft and smooth turns in the gully above treeline and breakable crusts near and below treeline.
No signs of recent avalanche danger was observed.
A weak front is making its way onshore this morning, offering up snow showers and westerly wind. This spurt of winter-like weather will wane throughout the day. Snow levels are expected to hover near 4,900 feet and a few inches of snow is possible. It will be windy above treeline, so hang on to your hat if venturing upwards on the mountain. After everything moves through, high pressure will begin to build over the forecast area. Fog in the valleys is likely, with sunshine in the mountains. Monday, a frontal system approaches the West Coast, but this one isn't anything to write home about. More on that one later.
