915 AM PST FRI DEC 28 2007 && ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS * OLYMPICS- WASHINGTON CASCADES- MT HOOD AREA- Considerable avalanche danger below 7000 feet Friday with a locally high danger on steep northeast through southeast facing slopes above about 5000 feet. Avalanche danger gradually decreases Friday night and early Saturday, but increasing again Saturday afternoon remaining considerable below 7000 feet. Further increasing danger Saturday night becoming high above 4 to 5000 feet and considerable below. OUTLOOK SUNDAY Increasing avalanche danger Sunday morning through Sunday afternoon becoming high above 4000 feet and considerable below. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended Sunday. SNOWPACK ANALYSIS Some 7 to 10 feet of snow has fallen over the Olympics, Mt Hood area and near and west of the Cascade crest over the past two weeks with about 2 to 6 feet over the east slopes. A rain event last Sunday has formed a crust over most areas near or west of the crest from about Mt Rainier southward and Mt Hood. Where present, this crust is now buried some 4 to 6 feet or more. There has been a slow overall snowpack settlement between storms however deep unconsolidated snow conditions exist throughout the region. Most recent avalanches have involved the new snow layers as deeper weak layers are settling quickly due mainly to the heavy loading. However, even these new snow soft slabs are ranging from 1 to 3 feet deep, mostly breaking up and running fairly loose. The main concern is from newly formed wind slab layers, mainly steeper wind loaded slopes near ridges where triggered slides remain probable. The most recent deeper slide was released Wednesday at about 6200 ft on Mt Hood on a north to northeast aspect on a wind loaded slope with a hand charge. This slide fractured 2-3 ft and released a deeper slide down an additional 4-5 ft lower on the path. This avalanche likely released down to the early December crust where weak snow lies above the crust. No other deeper releases have been reported over the past few days. Triggered slab avalanches remain probable on steeper wind loaded slopes and should be avoided. The deep unconsolidated snowpack in most areas is also causing a danger of suffocation from falls in tree wells or even just falling in the deep unconsolidated snowpack. Backcountry travelers are urged to use extra caution and avoid large steep open slopes, use safe route finding techniques and perform snow stability tests frequently as you change elevations and aspects. DETAILED FORECASTS FRIDAY, FRIDAY NIGHT Strong westerly crest level winds and continued light to moderate snow showers along the west slope areas Friday should maintain or continue to slightly increase the danger as further unstable wind slab layers form over previously deposited weak low density snow. Triggered slab avalanches should remain probable on steep lee slopes, especially above 5000 feet where a locally high danger is expected. Some natural slides should be possible Friday in steeper open terrain. Backcountry travelers should be very cautious and avoid any slopes where wind loading is evident. Some slides may break down to deeper layers making some larger slides possible. Slightly decreasing snow and winds late Friday night should lead to a slow decrease in danger. SATURDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT Slightly decreasing winds and snow early Saturday should allow for some settlement and decreasing danger. However increasing snow and strengthening winds midday and Saturday afternoon should again cause increasing avalanche danger. The greatest increase in danger is expected to be on steep slopes near ridges, mainly northeast through southeast facing and especially above 5000 feet where winds should be stronger. Unstable wind slabs should be increasingly large late Saturday and Saturday night with heavy snowfall and very strong winds. Backcountry travel is not recommended later Saturday and Saturday night. OUTLOOK SUNDAY Heavy snow and very strong westerly crest level and pass level winds should further load lee slopes making some large unstable wind slabs likely Sunday. Backcountry travel should be confined to lower angled slopes away from steeper slopes above and on windward slopes. &&