[cartman]

There's a trip heading to Straight Ridge via its southern approach from Hwy 20 this weekend. I'm skeptical that conditions are good enough for this to be safe. The route will be on southern open aspects up high. Any info as to new snow up there this week, consolidation of the older pack, and other thoughts?

[Just_Some_Hiker]

May 16, 2017, 3:33 p.m. PST Region: West Slopes North - Canadian Border to Skagit River Observation by Huginn , Muninn , Odinskier-X , Skier-A Did you see any avalanches? Yes Did you trigger any avalanches? No Was anyone caught in an avalanche? No Area Description: Wa. Pass corridor. S.R. 20 , N.C.H. Route Description: S. X S.E. aspect , 5200 - 7400' , subalpin to alpin . Weather: 30 deg. Snowing steady , winds 5mph. at base to 30+ at summit . Snowpack: 5-8" storm snow. cold to warm and windslabed . Poor to no bond with frozen firm sun affected base . Avalanches: 3 of 4 skiers triggered storm snow slab releases , traveling 500' each , with deposition piles in the 4' x 150' wide range.

[awilsondc]

I'm sure you've seen this if you've checked NWAC lately, but here is an excerpt: "Via the NWAC Observations page, backcountry skiers at Washington Pass on Tuesday reported 5-8 inches of storm snow that was not well bonded to the previous frozen sun affected snow. On south slopes they triggered several storm slab avalanches that gave debris piles 4 ft deep x 150 ft wide." Followed by: "Sunny and warmer weather is expected the next few days. It is currently difficult to say how long backcountry snow conditions will be unusual and will merit extra attention. Hopefully some backcountry reports will help to make this more clear the next few days."

[DIYSteve]

[gb]

How could it be consolidated? It has been basically cool and somewhat wet for all but a few days this spring and routinely snowing at 5000'. Here is the current forecast: NWS freezing levels forecast seven days The Quillayute freezing level yesterday PM was around 7500' after snowing to 3000' the day before. And telemetry even at Washington Pass yesterday showed 100% humidity - fog. While a light freeze is still possible Friday night, it will warm up fast and a passing trough will make Saturday - Saturday night somewhat cloudy especially in the North Cascades. Then, it just gets bloody warm and progressively so until Wednesday. Expect all aspects (a bit less so West) to be a pile of junk that wants to move downhill. Even California is not that consolidated this spring owing to cool and often windy weather that has kept all but south slopes not well consolidated. A warm day or two and it's junk.

[awilsondc]

Figures. We've finally got sunny skies forecasted for the next week + but the snow conditions are crappy and dangerous. Maybe by memorial day things will settle in a bit more.

[DIYSteve]

[Just_Some_Hiker]

May 18, 2017, 3:33 p.m. PST Region: East Slopes North - Canadian Border to Lake Chelan Observation by Huginn , Muninn , Geri , Freki ,Odin , SKIER-X Did you see any avalanches? Yes Did you trigger any avalanches? No Was anyone caught in an avalanche? No Area Description: Liberty Bell west S.R. 20 , N.C.H. Route Description: SW X NW aspect 5400 -7200" Weather: Mostly sunny 50 deg. wind variable . Pleasant Snowpack: 1/4" wet corn rounds on 1 1/2" humid transforming settling storm snow on 1-2" softening granular supportive base. Clean in openings , drip rings in trees , but soft . Avalanches: Wide spread storm snow releases , both natural and skier triggered on all aspects at about 30 deg. or steeper from Yesterday and today. Sun exposed aspects released snow and rotting ice fall today and yesterday propagating point triggered releases below warming rock faces

[cartman]

From NWAC Observations page: May 18, 2017, 3:33 p.m. PST Region: East Slopes North - Canadian Border to Lake Chelan Observation by Huginn , Muninn , Geri , Freki ,Odin , SKIER-X Did you see any avalanches? Yes Did you trigger any avalanches? No (actually Yes, see below) Was anyone caught in an avalanche? No Area Description: Liberty Bell west S.R. 20 , N.C.H. Route Description: SW X NW aspect 5400 -7200" Weather: Mostly sunny 50 deg. wind variable . Pleasant Snowpack: 1/4" wet corn rounds on 1 1/2" humid transforming settling storm snow on 1-2" softening granular supportive base. Clean in openings , drip rings in trees , but soft . Avalanches: Wide spread storm snow releases , both natural and skier triggered on all aspects at about 30 deg. or steeper from Yesterday and today. Sun exposed aspects released snow and rotting ice fall today and yesterday propagating point triggered releases below warming rock faces

[Just_Some_Hiker]

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