Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Generally stable avalanche conditions exist, and large avalanches are unlikely.  You may be able to trigger small wind drifts at upper elevations, and loose snow avalanches are possible on very steep slopes.  Either of these could be enough to knock you off your skis or sled and take you for a ride. There's a lingering chance of triggering a large slide in very steep, rocky, wind-affected terrain.

While the snowpack is generally stable, it's not "turn your brain off" conditions—there are a few potential concerns to keep in mind. None are widespread or likely to produce a large avalanche, but could be dangerous in higher consequence terrain.

WIND SLABS: You're likely to find small—but potentially sensitive—wind slabs at upper elevations. Yesterday's weather system produced gusty W winds in the afternoon (short video). Overnight the wind shifted to the NW and remained elevated, and the wind is expected to continue today. There is not a ton of loose snow available for transport, so any fresh wind slabs are likely to be small and isolated. However, these drifts may be forming on weak snow surfaces and could be easily triggered. These are unlikely to produce a big avalanche but could be enough to pull the rug out from under you and take you for a ride. We've received reports of triggered wind slabs after each recent wind event—including a few this past week. 

LOOSE SNOW AVALANCHES: Observers have been reporting "sluffy" conditions in very steep (>40 degrees) terrain. The several inches of new snow from earlier this week fell on weakening/faceting snow surfaces or slick crusts, and it's had a tendency to produce small, loose snow avalanches when "disturbed" by a skier or rider. Warming temperatures and sunshine this afternoon may be enough to release natural loose snow avalanches on very steep slopes that face the sun.

THE "MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT": Weak, faceted snow exists near the base of the snowpack on mid and upper elevation shady slopes. Triggering a persistent slab avalanche on this layer is unlikely, but it's not entirely impossible on slopes with the following characteristics:

• Steep: slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.
• Rocky: slopes with variable snow cover due to the roughness of the terrain.
• Wind-affected: slopes where December and January's strong winds produced variable snow depths.

Want to catch up on the last week's conditions? Want to know when it's going to snow (me too!). Be sure to watch our latest weekend update!