Selkirk Mountains

A generally stable snowpack remains into Friday. Conditions will quickly change with a storm rolling in late Friday and into the weekend. The danger will rise with new snow and winds creating new instabilities.

Yesterday, Brian and Micah headed into the North Selkirks,  from Smith Creek Road and snowmobiled northeast toward Saddle Mountain. The trail retained remnants of past snowmobile tracks beneath approximately two and a half inches of fresh snow, evidence of the recent storm.

Following a  ride up the road, we located a suitable spot at 5400 feet to begin our ski ascent, aiming to identify a favorable area for conducting frequent hasty pits and snow tests. The terrain presented challenges, with abundant brush, alder, and young trees interspersed throughout the snowpack. As the snowpack accumulated height after a prolonged dry spell, distinguishing logs and shallow snow near rocks became increasingly challenging.

Upon reaching an elevation of 6400 feet, we identified an area to dig down three feet. Our focus was on testing the snow's propensity to propagate and create fractures across a distinct rain crust that had caught our attention since December. While we observed potential weaknesses in these layers, today's test did not reveal any immediate concerns regarding failure. The likelihood of triggering an avalanche on the current layers continues to appear minimal.

Local snow enthusiasts have recently offered up their cherished snow gear as a symbolic winter sacrifice to the snow gods, all in the hopes of enticing some much-needed snowfall. Well, it seems Mother Nature received the memo, and a snowstorm is in route! A winter weather advisory is now in effect due to the impending storm, with heavy snowfall anticipated throughout the weekend, extending into early next week. Projections indicate 10-24 inches of new snow across the Panhandle. While this fresh snow may improve backcountry conditions, caution is advised due to the evolving conditions and heightened avalanche concerns.

If you encounter any instability or notice changing conditions, we encourage you to submit observations on our website (idahopanhandleavalanche.org). Stay safe and enjoy the new snow.