Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

The snowpack is generally stable and triggering an avalanche is unlikely. Watch for isolated slopes with pockets of wind-drifted snow—these are more likely in the western portion of this zone (Dollarhide to the Soldier Mtns). Small wet loose avalanches are possible on very steep, rocky slopes receiving direct sun. 

The snowpack is generally stable and triggering an avalanche is unlikely. This zone has received much less recent snowfall than our northern zones—hardly any in fact. Many steep SE-S-SW-W facing slopes are bare, especially in the southern reaches of the zone. More and more slopes are losing snow as the snowpack recedes further into the mountains.  Still, continue to use normal backcountry caution and watch for the small, isolated problems described below:

WIND SLABS: You may encounter small wind slabs in the western half of this zone from Dollarhide Summit to the Soldier Mountains. Look for drifts of windblown snow near ridgelines and on the sides of cross-loaded gullies and chutes. These will be more common at upper elevations but you may find some slabs at middle elevations as well. These slabs are likely to be less than a foot thick. Some of them formed on slick, icy crusts and small facets. They probably won't be large enough to bury you but they could knock you off your feet or your sled and carry you downslope.

WET AVALANCHES: While cloudier skies are in the forecast today, temperatures will be very warm. It may become possible to trigger small wet slides on very steep (approaching 40 degrees) slopes that face the sun. These are most likely on very steep slopes that face the sun, especially where the snowpack is less than about 2' thick. Even small wet avalanches are much more powerful than you'd expect (see videos here and here). Pay attention to the terrain above you. Large slopes can produce slides big enough to knock you off your feet and carry you places you don't want to go. 

Catch up on what happened this past week in Scott's latest Weekend Update!