Lawinenlagebericht

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Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

You are most likely to trigger avalanches where the wind has formed drifts or stiffened the snow surface. The slabs are largest and most widespread in upper-elevation terrain.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent snowfall and shifting wind has formed fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. Wednesday, snowmobilers triggered small wind slab avalanches in the southern Sawtooths. One rider was caught and carried but was unharmed (photo above/right, report). In the Smoky Mountains near Titus Peak, skiers remote triggered a large avalanche from a low angle ridgeline (report). Over the past week, multiple large natural avalanches released in wind-loaded upper elevation terrain of the Sawtooths and Smokys (list). 

    Wind slabs formed atop a variety of weak snow layers, including facets on shadier slopes and facets or crusts on sunnier W-SW-S-SE aspects. Because of these weak layers, slabs may be more sensitive to triggering than you might expect. Light to moderate wind and ongoing light snowfall has made wind-loaded slopes hard to identify. Look carefully for drifts and pillows of snow below exposed ridgelines, on the sides of gullies or chutes, and near large terrain features. While more prevalent at upper elevations, some slabs may exist on windier middle elevation slopes. Snowpack collapsing or cracks shooting out from your skis or sled are obvious signs of instability. 

    A snowmobiler was caught and carried in this small wind slab avalanche in the Alturas Lake Ck Drainage of the Sawtooth Mountains. They were not buried or injured. The slide released on a N-facing slope at about 9,100'.

Avalanche Discussion

Steering clear of recently formed drifts and slabs is the most effective way to stay out of trouble. While minor, there is one other scenario to keep in mind as you prepare to head into the mountains:

  • Loose Snow Avalanches: Over a foot of snow has fallen here since Sunday. This recent low-density snow sits atop extremely weak facets on some NW-N-NE-E facing slopes. On very steep slopes approaching 40 degrees, it won't take much to get surficial sluffs moving (photo). Today will be mostly clear. Direct sunshine will trigger natural loose snow avalanches. These probably won't be big enough to bury you, but they can pack a punch and could knock you over, pushing you where you don't want to go. Sluffs have the potential to trigger wind slab avalanches when recent winds formed stiff drifts lower in cirques and on the aprons of chutes and couloirs. 

Pay attention to the terrain above you. Remember that even small avalanches can have bad outcomes in complex terrain. Before committing to skiing or riding a slope, think about where an avalanche could carry you. Could you get pushed over cliffs, through trees, or into creeks or gullies? Slopes with these terrain traps are inherently more dangerous than open slopes with a clean runout.

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