OUTDOORS & REC
B2 — THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD
AVALANCHE
Continued from Page B1
Most notably, the Alps
teem with villages and ski
resorts and highways, all
built in avalanche country.
Most of the ava-
lanche-prone terrain in
Northeastern Oregon, by
contrast, is uninhabited and
visited by a comparatively
tiny number of people.
The bottom line is that
any avalanche in the Alps
is much more likely to have
humans in its path than one
in this corner of Oregon.
But McNeil said the
conditions that breed ava-
lanches frequently occur
in parts of Northeastern
Oregon — slopes that
are steep (but not neces-
sarily vertical, since cliff s
can’t hold enough snow
to fuel a big avalanche),
and weather conditions
that create unstable layers
within the snowpack.
A relatively common
situation that poses a
hazard — and one that’s in
place now in much of the
region — is a long period
of tranquil weather, with
little snow falling, McNeil
said.
In that case, and in
particular when the sur-
face of the snow melts and
refreezes, the shape of
the snow grains tends to
morph from circular, with
the grains readily bonding
to create a fi rm structure,
to square.
These squarish grains,
what skiers often call
“sugar snow,” do not bond
as well, McNeil said,
resulting in a layer of
weak snow.
When new snow accu-
mulates on that weak layer,
the weight of the new snow
can trigger an avalanche.
The weight of a skier,
snowshoer or snowmobile,
naturally, greatly increases
the risk.
An ice layer on the sur-
face is similarly dangerous
because new snow, like
boots losing traction on an
icy sidewalk, is likely to
slide off rather than stick.
Various other conditions
also can exacerbate ava-
lanche danger, McNeil said.
If a couple feet of snow
falls in a short period, as
happens most winters in
parts of the region, the new
snow, even if accumulates
on a stable layer, might not
might not itself become
internally stable for a few
days, he said.
During that period the
deep, unconsolidated snow
can be prone to sliding.
Wind is also a major
factor.
When wind blows from
a consistent direction at
a speed of between about
10 mph and 15 mph for
an extended period it can
cause slabs of snow to
form on the leeward side
of ridges.
If slabs accumulate
atop layers of less dense
snow, there is a greater
risk of what are known as
“wind slab avalanches,”
McNeil said.
He said the Center’s
staff members use a variety
of data, in addition to their
own observations from
snow pits they dig, to com-
pile their forecasts. These
include readings from
remote weather stations.
One of those stations
has a direct, and poignant,
connection to the Wallowa
Avalanche Center.
The Kip Rand weather
station, in the southern
Wallowas north of
Halfway, was named for
the man who McNeil suc-
ceeded as the Center’s
director.
Rand died on March 8,
2016, from injuries he sus-
tained in an avalanche on
Chief Joseph Mountain in
the northern Wallowas,
south of Joseph.
The Kip Rand station is
vital because it measures
wind as well as temperature.
Most of the other
remote stations lack an
anemometer.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2022
DAUBLE
Continued from Page B1
Victor McNeil/Contributed Photo
Victor McNeil, director of the Wallowa Avalanche Center,
dug this snow pit in the upper Rock Creek area of the Elkhorn
Mountains on Jan. 26, 2022. Snow pits allow experts such as
McNeil to examine the snowpack for potentially weak layers that
raise the risk of avalanches.
Ice fi shing gear is scaled
down in size. I paid $25 for
a 42-inch-long, light-action
“Ugly Stick” spinning rod
and open-face reel loaded
with 50 yards of monofi l-
ament line. For compar-
ison, an friend from Min-
nesota dropped a C-note
on a 36-inch ice rod and
free-fall inline reel. His
purchase seemed extrava-
gant, but then again, I own
a 5-weight Winston boron
fl y rod with serial numbers
etched in cursive above
each ferrule. Each to their
own it seems.
Unlike most other fi sh
that frequent western
waterways, perch are active
feeders all year long. How-
ever, patience is required
to hook these soft biters.
Downsizing my terminal
lure to a Swedish Pimple
and attaching a worm-
baited dropper hook up the
line quickly led to a dozen
perch fl opping at my feet.
Watching one rod instead
of hopping back and forth
between two also improved
hookset percentage. The
majority of a newly popu-
lated tackle box remained
in place though, suggesting
that ice fi shing — along
with most forms of angling
— leads to purchasing way
too much gear.
I’ve since heard reports
of hand-size crappie and
bluegill pulled through
area ice. A friend from
Minnesota tells of taking
walleye, holdover rain-
bows, and a largemouth
bass. Assuming sub-
freezing temperatures
remain in eff ect, I plan to
give ice fi shing another
try. Freezing your butt off
waiting for a bobber to sink
sure beats looking out the
dining room window and
grousing about lost oppor-
tunity for steelhead.
———
Dennis Dauble is the
author of “Bury Me with
My Fly Rod” and the
recently released, “Chasing
Ghost Trout.” Contact him
via his website at Dennis-
DaubleBooks.com.
Victor McNeil/Contributed Photo
Avalanche experts use a magnifying glass to study snow crystals.
Over time, crystals can change shape, leading to unstable layers in
the snowpack.
Dennis Dauble/Contributed Photo
A bucketful of perch makes for a fi ne January day on an ice-
covered lake.
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by Stella Wilder
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2022
YOUR BIRTHDAY by Stella Wilder
Born today, you are known for your ability
to “come from behind” and snatch victory
from the jaws of defeat -- and you do it time
and again, in situations both trivial and
important. What you have going for you, more
than anything else, is your ability to see past
your own shortcomings or any difficult cir-
cumstances by which you may be pounded at
any given time; you are able to see beyond the
troubles that might be too much for someone
else and see the results that wait for you.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You may
have to follow someone’s plan today, but you
are certainly free to implement new elements
if you are inspired to do so.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Your
“attack” today will make all the difference. Do
you want to be aggressive or more subtle than
that? Each sends a different message.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You’ll be
able to say much today simply by keeping
yourself busy and letting your actions speak
for you. Others appreciate this approach.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You don’t
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today -- just start! Indeed, the more you can
remain in the background, the better.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You may
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normally not do, but this is not a normal day!
Never fear, this phase won’t last long.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You will
have more insight into other people’s motives
than usual today, and this should give you a
marked advantage over a close competitor.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- What you avoid
today is likely to come back to haunt you
tomorrow, so you are better off dealing with it
head-on right now.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Seek a way
out for yourself and you’re likely to find the
way out for someone else -- but you may be
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You may be
restricted by a rule that no one pays any atten-
tion to anymore. It may be up to you, then, to
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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You’re in
no mood to get your hands dirty, yet that may
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hands-on assistance will be required!
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- It
may be time, finally, for you to update your
approach to a certain routine problem. You’ve
“made do” for long enough!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You
may be tempted to reveal a sensitive piece of
information that you merely stumbled upon
recently, but it’s best to keep mum today.
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