Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

While large avalanches are unlikely today, even small avalanches can have high consequences in the wrong terrain. Triggering small dry snow avalanches—wind slabs and sluffs—is possible on steep slopes. The chance of wet snow avalanches will increase as the sun heats up the snow surface. Watch for the newer snow becoming moist and sliding on slick crusts. Near valley bottoms, be on the lookout for deeper wet snow this afternoon and avoid very steep slopes if you are finding it. 

There isn't a single, well-defined avalanche problem today. Springtime brings us a broad range of weather and a smorgasbord of avalanche conditions to go along with it. As the adage goes, "If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes". This has been true the last few days, as the weather has oscillated between intense snow flurries and bright sunshine. And while none of the associated snowpack issues are likely to produce large avalanches, they could easily change the course of your day if you encounter them in the wrong sort of terrain. The things you should have in mind while traveling today broadly fall into two categories:

• DRY SNOW - The weekend's storm brought 4-10" of snow to upper elevation terrain in our area and yesterday's sputter brought a few more. Up high, the wind has built slabs near terrain features that slow the wind down and force it to drop the snow it is carrying. The wind slabs that I've encountered over the past few days have been well bonded to the surfaces they are resting on, but other reports indicate that some of these slabs may be touchier. On Sunday, a skier in the Soldier Mountains triggered a small wind slab that knocked them off their feet and carried them a distance downslope (photos and more details here). Winds over the past 12 hours have generally been blowing out of the N-NW so you can expect to find the most recent slabs around the southern half of the compass. Winds have shifted directions over the past few days so older slabs will have an irregular distribution. In areas sheltered from the wind, the low-density new snow has been sluffing in very steep terrain. I encountered this problem in the Sawtooths on Sunday and skiers in the Banner Summit area encountered it yesterday. If you are finding great powder skiing or riding be on the lookout for this problem on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.
• WET SNOW - Today's forecast is calling for good helpings of clouds, but it is mostly clear right now and I'm not putting too much faith in it. Temperatures will remain cool today, but periods of bright sunshine will quickly melt the snow surface and bring the possibility of wet loose avalanches to the table. These slides will start at a point and fan out as they travel downslope, picking up speed and momentum as they go. You're most likely to encounter this problem in very steep, rocky terrain that directly faces the sun. If the snow surface is starting to get wet, have these slides on your radar. Warmer temperatures and more sunshine at lower elevations may cause the snowpack to melt more deeply, producing the potential for gouging wet avalanches. If you are traveling through low elevation terrain at the end of the day and are sinking past your boots through mushy snow, be on the lookout for deeper wet snow problems. 

During periods of LOW danger, we often find ourselves drawn to steeper and more technical terrain. In this type of terrain, even small slides can carry high consequences. Take a minute before dropping into your chosen terrain today to think about what being caught in a slide there might look like. Continue to maintain the safe travel techniques that you've been using all season long: travel one at a time in avalanche terrain, keep a close eye on your partners, and carry your avalanche rescue gear and know how to use it.

If you're still reading, let's shift gears. I generally like to use this section of the forecast to relate some thoughts about how I am thinking about dealing with the avalanche problems at hand. Since we don't have a single, well-defined problem on the menu today I'll share a story about how I traveled in the mountains this weekend:

Early Sunday morning I walked out of my house in the dark. I had my sights set on a steep, remote line in the Sawtooths that I'd been thinking about skiing for some time. With an inch of new snow down low, travel conditions were fast and the first hours in the dark passed without incident. My personal weather and avalanche forecast had me concerned with the potential for wind slabs at upper elevations and the possibility that these slabs would be reactive thanks to the slick crusts and faceted surfaces they were sitting on. As I climbed up into the alpine at first light I could see plenty of evidence of wind-affected snow (both scouring and loading). The line I wanted to ski that day required me to climb up through steep terrain that had a crust underneath the new snow. I knew it would be an unmanageable problem and that if I chose to climb the line I would have to accept the slight chance of triggering a slab that would carry me through some ugly terrain. So I pulled the plug on the plan at sunrise. 

Anti-climactic? Yes. Unsatisfying? In the short-term, maybe. But in the long-term, no.  As someone who spends a lot of time in the backcountry and has a passion for skiing steep terrain in big mountains, I have grown accustomed to "bailing". In fact, I consider a willingness to bail when appropriate to be one of the most desirable qualities in a ski partner. Putting your head down and pushing forward at all costs is easy. Listening to the mountains and the snowpack and deciding to set aside your desired goal is far more challenging. After I made my decision, I took off my pack for a minute, drank some water, enjoyed a few cookies and made a new plan. I skied great powder in the sun and the shade and started day-dreaming about the next time I'd get a chance to have a go at what had been my goal for the day. It will still be there, I'm looking forward to another attempt.