Avalanche risk on hard packed summer snow fields?

In summer the snow will be consolidated throughout the depth of the snowpack, especially after you start getting non-freezing temps at night. The only slides you’ll likely see in summer will be afternoon slopes in the sun, where you can have heavy, slow, wet sloughing on the surface layers of steep slopes, mostly small in size. These slides can still be dangerous is you loose your footing in one, but they are much more predictable than the soft and hard slab avalanches of a layered winter snowpack.

Alaska gets a few deaths in small-scale avalanches each May and June. Although everyone remembers the bigger one a day after a storm that killed 8-10 at a time, most deaths are in smaller, human-triggered avalanches.

Also, that cornice?  It’s going to fail at some point so don’t be on it when it does. i.e. walk below the ridge line, never on the wind-loaded side, and don’t go to the very highest part of the apparent summit. There might not be anything under it.

I would say that this year is one to be a little less cavalier about the summer snowpack, especially early on.

Cold nights and early starts using spikes is a time tested mountaineering strategy. Off course this necessitates some knowledge of dealing with steep frozen surfaces.

Afternoon ascents are going to be technically less challenging, but the avalanche aspect gets introduced. And in any sort of unsettled weather this is not the time to be high and exposed.

With a bigger snowpack, would it take longer for that snow pack to consolidate? Is the main danger here from hot weather causing a wet slide? That would be a good reason to tackle the slopes early in the day.

Most of my hiking on snow has been in the North Cascades in Washington State.  Summer hiking there starts around mid-July.  By that time, the snow has consolidated and avalanches are not a threat.  Yes, on south facing slopes the snow can get slushy in the afternoon, and you might get some snowballs rolling down, but you’re not going to see real avalanches.

BUT… in a heavy snow year–and this is one–avalanche danger can persist thru June, even into early July.  My guess is that the Sierra’s would consolidate earlier due to their location relative to northern Washington State, but elevations in the Sierra’s are higher, so it might end up being a wash.  So this year, I’d be careful in June.

Avalanche forecasts are available on the web, but I believe the service shuts down in late Spring.

Here’s the one for the Pacific Northwest:  http://www.nwac.us/

There might still be some wet slide risk in June, (though it’s much smaller than now in the spring), and even then the avalanche risk is far  lower than the risk of slipping and falling on steep snow, and much less than the risks involved in creek crossings during the melt. I would not limit my route choices due to avalanche risk in the summer, but I sure would consider carrying real crampons and ice axe for steep stuff, or microspikes and a ski/trekking pole or two for gentler slopes.

Avalanche risk is complex and varies with local conditions, so it’s very difficult to generalise.

For example, as David points out, cornices can collapse at any time or year. Best not to  be on them or under them when they do!

Learn all you can and err on the side of caution. If in any doubt at all, consult with local ranger or experts about current conditions before you set out.

Avalanche risk is complex and varies with local conditions, so it’s very difficult to generalise.

For example, as David points out, cornices can collapse at any time or year. Best not to  be on them or under them when they do!

Learn all you can and err on the side of caution. If in any doubt at all, consult with local rangers or experts about current conditions before you set out.