Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

A small storm mixed with strong NW winds has created sensitive, thin wind drifts in exposed terrain. You can significantly reduce risk by steering clear of recently wind-affected snow. While these slides can be small, they can add big consequences on slopes ending with cliffs, trees, and terrain traps.

A STORM BRINGS CHANGE

A small storm brought 1-3 inches of lightweight snow, accompanied by moderate to strong NW winds. The winds blew at extreme speeds in the Soldier Mountains, where Peak 2 recorded a gust of 101 mph.  This small amount of snow created sensitive, thin wind slabs in exposed middle and upper-elevation terrain. These small slabs formed over very fragile, weak-faceted snow. Staying off recently wind-loaded slopes steeper than about 35 degrees is a good way to not tangle with these small avalanches. 

Skiing and riding over consequential terrain remain the biggest concern. While triggered slides can be small, they can pack a punch if they carry you through trees, cliffs, gullies, and other terrain traps. A similar weather pattern last week created a few natural avalanches to fail in wind-drifted terrain that ended over cliffs into the Big Wood River (photo here). 

Last week, a party of skiers near Carbonate Mountain triggered a loose avalanche (observation, photo). One of the skiers initiated the weak surface snow that picked up speed, gathered more snow, and knocked her down. Luckily, she regained control, "but if it had dragged the member of our party through the pinch, it would not have been pretty." Loose avalanches can pick up speed quickly and have enough debris to knock you over. Avoiding slopes steeper than about 35 degrees which end in a terrain trap will increase your chances of not being injured by these small avalanches. 

The snowpack is deeper on the western side of this zone (Dollarhide area and west to the Soldiers). Slabs in the snowpack have retained their strength, and you would have to get unlucky to trigger deeper layers in the snowpack. You'll find much safer conditions, and better skiing and riding, in terrain sheltered from the effects of the wind.