Lawinenlagebericht

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

You're most likely to trigger a large avalanche on slopes where the wind forms drifts or stiffens the snow surface. Triggering avalanches in areas sheltered from the wind is less likely. There's a chance you could trigger avalanches remotely—from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Today's storm will form 1-2' thick wind slabs. Your odds of triggering a large wind slab avalanche increase as you climb into windier terrain at upper elevations. This problem is more pronounced in the western half of this zone including Dollarhide Summit and the Soldiers. Moderate to strong wind will shift from the SE-SW-W, forming drifts on various aspects. While initially small, these slabs will grow larger and more dangerous throughout the day. 

    Wind slabs often form near ridgelines or along steep mid-slope gullies. You can reduce your chances of triggering a wind slab by looking for and avoiding slopes with obvious signs of wind-loading, such as new cornice growth and large dunes or pillows of wind-blown snow. 

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Trigging a 1-4 foot thick persistent slab avalanche is possible. You are most likely to trigger these slides in areas where you find drifts or a stiff snow surface. Various weak layers of snow (facets, crust-facet combinations, and possibly surface hoar) exist on most slopes. Today's storm is the first of multiple storms that will increase the odds of triggering a persistent slab avalanche at all elevations. 

    Snowpack cracking, collapsing, or whumfing are clear signs of unstable conditions. Look for snow pillows, dunes, and ripples, and feel for stiff snow under your feet or sled. These are signs the wind has been at work transporting snow.  

    You can avoid steep, wind-loaded slopes to reduce your chances of triggering an avalanche. Persistent Slabs can release in surprising ways, break wider than expected, and release above or hundreds of feet away from where they are triggered. Remotely triggering an avalanche from flat terrain below steep slopes remains possible.

    (12/21/2024) Skier-triggered avalanche near 9800' on a NE aspect in the northern Boulder Mtns.

Avalanche Discussion

A series of powerful storms will impact our region through Monday. Today's 6-12" of snow and moderate to strong wind will build fresh wind slabs at upper elevations and on windier middle elevation slopes. Some avalanches may release naturally, and your odds of triggering a large avalanche will increase throughout the day. 

While a problem in their own right, today's wind slabs will also increase the chance we see much larger avalanches release on one of the buried persistent layers in our upper snowpack. With either problem, the safer move is to seek out soft snow in terrain more sheltered from the wind. In the next few days, finding safe places to play will become increasingly difficult. It's time to take a collective step back and increase our safety margin as storms intensify. 

 

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