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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Wind, warming changes avalanche conditions in mountains

Skiers have climbed to a ridge in the Esplanade Mountain Range, part of the Northern Selkirk Mountains. and are traversing to a spot above a bowl to ski luxurious powder snows courtesy of snow gods and Golden Alpine Holidays.   (Jean Arthur  / Awayfinder Correspondent)
Skiers have climbed to a ridge in the Esplanade Mountain Range, part of the Northern Selkirk Mountains. and are traversing to a spot above a bowl to ski luxurious powder snows courtesy of snow gods and Golden Alpine Holidays. (Jean Arthur / Awayfinder Correspondent)

WINTER SPORTS -- "We just began Chapter II of winter 2011/12," Kevin Davis of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center says in an announcement this afternoon. 

"This change in weather is introducing a significant load to a weak snowpack.  As of the sending of this email (Tuesday 3:30 p.m.) freezing levels have risen to 6,000 feet and above and precipitation is rain or a snow/rain mix.  Winds are picking up and blowing a consistent 20 mph with higher gusts; direction seems to be variable but prevailing westerly. 

"Expect an unstable inverted snowpack with heavy wet snow overlying a dry weak base.  Unstable conditions will remain with the passage of the pineapple express and a natural avalanche cycle may become widespread. 

"Human triggered avalanches will be likely for a period following this but you should have some good clues as, "where not to go", if you choose to venture out.  Travel in avalanche terrain is not advised. "

Read on for the full pre-season advisory.

 

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center

Avalanche Advisory, Nov. 22, 2011 

Contact: Kevin Davis (208) 265-6686, Ed Odegaard (208) 245-6209, or John Olson (208) 265-6635

This message is available by calling (208) 765-7323 or toll-free at 1-866-489-8664.

E-mail address: kevingdavis@fs.fed.us, dfrigard@fs.fed.us, jrolson@fs.fed.us, ebmorgan@fs.fed.us

This is Kevin Davis with the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center. Today is November 22, 2011. We will begin issuing regular avalanche advisories December 16th. The avalanche advisory will be issued every Friday at 7:30 AM with an outlook for Saturday and Sunday, same as always. The Friends of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center is working on a new website so we’ll definitely let you know when that is up and running.

Here we go! Snowfall is accumulating rapidly in the mountains of North Idaho. Lookout Pass Snotel shows 4 inches in the last 24 hours and the ski area is reporting 7 inches, Lost Lake Snotel in the Clearwater drainage shows 5 inches in 24 hours. Silver Mountain is reporting 11 inches in 24 hours. To the north, Bear Mtn Snotel picked up 12 inches, Hidden Lake shows 16 inches, and Schweitzer Snotel is down but speaking with ski patrol, they said 23 inches in 24 hours. Groomers on the mountain said that drifts on the ridges could be 15 feet deep. Snow depths are ranging from 2-3 feet to the south and 3-4 feet to the north. Freezing levels are reaching up to the 5,000 foot level and could go higher before dropping again. That means heavy snow, rain, and increasing avalanche danger. Read on.

Recall that up until yesterday the weather has remained relatively cold. The couple of feet of snowpack on the ground consisted largely of low density snow and possibly surface hoar that has been preserved fairly intact by cold temperatures. Late last week winds and new snow also added to the variability by loading ridgetops with deep deposits that could be found on multiple aspects. End Chapter I – The cold snowpack settled. Chapter II – How to build a climax avalanche. With the accumulations of snow in the past 24 hours and rising temperatures, on a cold, faceted snowpack the likelyhood of large and widespread avalanches is high. Add to that strong westerly winds and you have the makings for climax avalanches, to the ground, especially in steep windloaded terrain near ridgetops. I would strictly be an observer for the next few days while these strong weather systems pass through and work over the weak base of the pack. Avoid avalanche terrain and pay close attention to your proximity to avalanche paths; tracks and runout zones. Look for the signs of avalanche activity, shooting cracks, whumphing, rapid settlement, and obviously, avalanches. Stay off terrain where you see the signs. Be careful if you go out and have a great Thanksgiving!

Check out these websites from other avalanche centers for more information:



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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