Lawinenlagebericht

Silver Valley & Bitterroot Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 4 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Low avalanche danger does not mean no avalanche danger. Generally stable and mild weather since the weekend has allowed the snowpack time to settle and bond, decreasing the likelihood of avalanches. Stubborn wind slabs may still be an issue on the lee side of ridges.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1–2

    Wednesday there was plenty of wind, but little available snow for transport, limiting formation of new wind slabs. However, wind slabs formed earlier in the week, mostly on north to east aspects at upper elevation. Wind slabs are likely stubborn at this point, but worth watching out for. The wind slabs will feel firm and will have formed on the lee side of ridges at upper elevations.

Avalanche Discussion

Thursday we toured in the Sunset Peak/Goose Peak area. Overall, we found stable avalanche conditions and plenty of good riding snow—what the resorts might call “heavy powder.”

The generally stable weather, with nightly freeze up, has been good for building stability in the snowpack. The Christmas Crust, now buried about a foot down, is bridging deeper instabilities; while the gradual temperature gradient in the snowpack has slowed vapor transfer and promoted rounding of deeply buried facet layers. All good stuff.

However, as stated in the Bottom Line, low avalanche danger does not mean no avalanche danger. Continue practicing good travel habits: carry your beacon, shovel and probe every time you go out, one skier/rider exposed to avalanche terrain at a time, keep your eyes on your partner when in avalanche terrain, and be aware of exposure to terrain traps.

Looking ahead, the prevailing weather looks like more of the same: mild temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s with pulses of snow, but very little accumulation. Sunday's weather forecast is predicting 1-3", which may be good for refreshing the surface conditions. It’s a good time to get out there and explore a little more than conditions have permitted so far this season.

Thank you to those of you who have submitted observations recently. It’s a big help getting information from the community of snow goers. Keep’em coming!

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