900 AM PST THU JAN 3 2008 && ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS * OLYMPICS- WASHINGTON CASCADES NEAR AND WEST OF THE CREST- Considerable avalanche danger above 4000 feet and moderate below Thursday and Friday. * EAST SLOPES WASHINGTON CASCADES- MT HOOD AREA- Considerable avalanche danger above about 5000 feet and moderate below Thursday and Friday. SNOWPACK ANALYSIS Most areas have received some 4 to 8 inches of new snow since early Wednesday with lesser new snow in the Cascade passes and greater amounts over the volcanoes. The recent new snow that has accumulated over the past two days as well as a strong storm late Saturday through Sunday has fallen with very strong winds and at warming temperatures. This has deposited denser wind affected snow over the significantly deep 3 to 6 feet of colder lower density snow deposited in late December. Additionally a weak faceted snow layer overlies a buried rain crust that formed just before Christmas some 3 to 6 feet or more below the surface, as well as weak faceted snow continuing to be evident above the early December crust. It is likely that this snowpack structure of recently formed dense wind slab over lower density snow contributed to the avalanche released by a high marking snowmobiler near Church Mt, north of Mt Baker on New Years Day that caught all five of the party and killed two. Few details of the slide are known presently, however it was triggered by a party member on a steep slope near ridgeline, likely loaded by strong winds over the weekend. Backcountry travelers are urged to conduct field tests of local conditions as a wide variety of snowpack profiles have been reported over the past few days. Some great and relatively safe unconsolidated powder snow can still be found on wind protected slopes. Other field tests are still producing easy to moderate compression test results, mainly on a persistent weak layer above either the Christmas crust or early December crust. Additionally, surface snow is widely varied, as sun on Monday and strong winds on Tuesday created thin surface crusts that may now be loaded with the most recent shallow new snow layers. This snowpack structure with surface wind slabs and deep weak layers is causing a dangerous snowpack structure in many areas. Especially at higher elevations on open slopes near ridges where wind loading has been significant. Backcountry travelers should continue to use extreme caution and it is advised to travel on more shallow angled slopes and more wind protected slopes such as more heavily tree covered. DETAILED FORECASTSSS THURSDAY Another frontal passage is lifting northward across the Cascades Thursday. This is causing increasing moderate snowfall at slightly rising freezing levels along with very strong southerly winds, especially at higher elevations and near crest level. The strong winds and denser snow should build further unstable layers, especially at higher elevations and near ridges and mainly on northwest through northeast facing slopes. Extra caution should be exercised as triggered slab avalanches remain probable above about 4000 feet on steeper lee slopes. FRIDAY Yet another approaching frontal band is expected Friday. This should cause renewed very strong southerly winds near crest level and additional moderate to heavy precipitation at rising freezing levels. The heaviest snowfall should occur over the volcanic peaks Friday where a slightly greater danger increase is expected. This weather should build deeper dense and potentially unstable wind slabs on lee slopes, again primarily northwest through northeast facing above 4000 feet. Backcountry travelers are advised to use extra caution Friday, especially in open terrain at higher elevations and confine travel to windward ridges. &&