Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

A large multi-day storm created dangerous avalanche conditions on slopes above 8500 ft and in areas along the northern border of this zone. Destructive natural and human-triggered avalanches are more likely as you climb into windier, upper elevation terrain. Stay off of and out from beneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

We will begin issuing daily Avalanche Forecasts with Danger Ratings when snow cover allows for reasonable backcountry recreational access. 

If you're travelling above 8500 ft or along the northern border of this zone (in areas such as at Dollarhide Summit and the Soldier Mountains) please refer to the Galena Summit and Eastern Mountains forecast.

Prior to this multi-day storm, much of the terrain in this zone lacked a snowpack. The deepest snowpacks are in the higher elevation terrain around Dollarhide Summit and in the Soldier Mountains. Consistently high rain-lines throughout this warm storm cycle have continued to starve the mid and lower elevations of snow essential for access and for avalanches.

Shady slopes (NW-N-NE-E aspects) near and above 8500 ft on Bald Mountain, in the Soldier Mountains, near Dollarhide Summit, and near the border of the Galena Summit & Eastern Mountains zone are the most dangerous. Consistent moderate and strong W winds throughout the storm have continued to build sensitive wind slabs on leeward (N-NE-E-SE-S) slopes.

Cracks shooting out from you and "whumpfing" sounds as the snowpack collapses are red flags that indicate unstable conditions.  Avoid steep slopes if you experience these obvious signs of instability. Triggered slides could be wider than you expect. You may be able to trigger avalanches remotely—from gentler terrain above, below, or to the sides of steep slopes.