Lawinenlagebericht

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 2 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Triggering a large avalanche is unlikely but not out of the question. Watch for rocky, wind-swept slopes with variable snowpack depths—these are the areas where slides are most likely to occur.

 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1.5–2

    Your odds of triggering a large, dense slab avalanche are low but not zero. Avalanches are easier to trigger in thin spots at the edges of slabs and wind-features. Watch for these trigger points on the northern half of the compass, where the wind frequently blows, and the snowpack depth is variable. Many shady slopes in rocky alpine cirques fit that description. Some visual clues to identify suspect slopes:

    • Stiff or textured surfaces and wind-pillows, evidence the wind has moved snow  
    • Rocks sticking out of the snow, either near or well below ridgelines
    • Terrain where some part of the slope is at least 35 degrees in steepness

    If you do trigger an avalanche, you probably won't observe obvious signs of instability like snowpack collapsing or cracking beforehand. Any triggered avalanches have the potential to break above you. 

Avalanche Discussion

Generally stable conditions exist, and avalanches are unlikely. It has been over two weeks since this zone's last confirmed large, dry slab avalanche. 

If you were to find trouble, you'd probably be in a shaded, rocky alpine cirque. These areas often have variable snowpack depths due to wind scouring and loading around prominent terrain features like ridgelines and rocky ribs. Trigger points exist where the upper snowpack is stiff, and the slab is thin. These conditions are a bit more likely in the southeastern corner of this zone (Salmon River Headwaters, Frenchman Ck, and the mountains near the mouths of Smiley Ck and Beaver Ck.) Check out this video for a great explanation of triggering a Persistent Slab from a thin spot. 

When playing in avalanche terrain, you can always stack the odds in your favor by traveling with a knowledgeable partner and avoiding slopes that end in terrain traps, such as thick trees, cliffs, and creek bottoms.

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