Lawinenlagebericht

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 6 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Avalanches are unlikely, and most slopes are safe. Watch for small, isolated wind drifts in upper elevation and alpine terrain

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1

    On Saturday, 1-2" of new snow fell in this zone accompanied by moderate to strong winds blowing out of the SW-NW. Several observers in the Smoky and Boulder Mountain (south and east of this zone) reported finding small, thin, isolated wind slabs that were sensitive to their weight. None of these slabs were large enough to bury a person, but they could knock you off your feet and send you tumbling down the slope. Since you are most likely to come across one of these slabs in steep, rocky, upper elevation terrain such a fall could have high consequences.

    Hidden below these thin fresh slabs is an older generation of wind slabs that formed during last weekend's storm. In most locations, these slabs have had time to bond to the surfaces they were deposited on. However, the combination of sun crusts and facets can create weak surfaces that act as longer-lived weak layers. This exact combination was the culprit weak layer in a wind slab that was triggered in this zone on Tuesday (photo at right). Encountering a sensitive slab from last weekend's storm is most likely on the northern half of the compass, particularly on the eastern and western margins where faceted snow grains are paired with a subtle sun crust. Look for drifts of stiffened snow that produce cracks that extend past your skis, board, or machine, a telltale sign of a sensitive wind drift. 

Avalanche Discussion

The potential for avalanches only truly goes to zero once the entire snowpack has melted. In light of that, continue to exercise caution when traveling in the backcountry. What does normal caution look like?

  • Make a solid plan before a day in the backcountry. A plan helps you anticipate hazards (of which avalanches are only one), identify options for the day, and ensure everyone is prepared for an emergency.
  • Perform a trailhead gear check. A proper beacon check ensures everyone's transceiver can send and receive a signal. Maybe you could use a brush-up on your beacon skills? Don't forget about the Baker Creek beacon park. Is everyone's radio working and on the right channel? Airbags armed and in working order?
  • Maintain situational awareness. Don't let your guard down even when the snowpack is generally stable. If you see a wind-loaded slope or another indicator of potential instability, don't assume it's safe just because the danger is Low. Identify and avoid other hazards such as large cornices. 
  • Communicate with your partners. As you travel through the mountains talk with your partners. Are you seeing what you were expecting to see when you made your plan in the morning or are conditions different than you thought that they would be? Do you need to adjust your plan accordingly?
  • Continue to use safe travel practices. It's easy to get sloppy with your travel practices during periods of stability. Continue to minimize your group's exposure to potential avalanche hazards, ideally traveling one at a time through steep terrain.

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