Lawinenlagebericht

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

The snowpack is generally stable and triggering a large avalanche is unlikely. Watch for rocky, wind-swept slopes with variable snowpack depths—these are the areas where you could find trouble. Small sluffs involving the surface snow may release naturally on very steep, sunny slopes. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Your odds of triggering a large, dense slab avalanche are low but not zero. Avalanches are easier to trigger in thin spots at the edges of slabs and wind-features. Watch for these trigger points on the northern half of the compass, where the wind frequently blows, and the snowpack depth is variable. Many shady slopes in rocky alpine cirques fit that description. Some visual clues to identify suspect slopes:

    • Stiff or textured surfaces and wind-pillows, evidence the wind has moved snow  
    • Rocks sticking out of the snow, either near or well below ridgelines
    • Terrain where some part of the slope is at least 35 degrees in steepness

    If you do trigger an avalanche, you probably won't observe obvious signs of instability like snowpack collapsing or cracking beforehand. Any triggered avalanches have the potential to break above you.

    Additional Discussion - surface snow issues: Recent snowfall and wind-transported snow may have formed isolated, thin wind slabs near ridgetops and in alpine terrain. Although observations indicate the fresh slabs are small, they could be easy to trigger. Also, today's sunshine could cause loose snow sluffs to release naturally. Both types of small slides could entrain weak snow as they move downhill, becoming large enough to knock you off your feet or sled and carry you where you don't want to go. 

Avalanche Discussion

Generally stable conditions exist, and large avalanches are unlikely. This zone's last confirmed large, dry slab avalanche occurred over three weeks ago. 

On wind-sheltered slopes on the northern half of the compass, the extended period of high pressure has faceted much of the snowpack. You could trigger sluffs in very steep terrain where this "recycled powder" exists. While these slides won't be large enough to bury people, they could knock you over or carry you where you don't want to go.  

Even though triggering a thick slab avalanche is unlikely, shaded, rocky alpine cirques give us pause. These areas often have variable snowpack depths due to wind scouring and loading around prominent terrain features like ridgelines and rocky ribs. Trigger points exist where the upper snowpack is stiff, and the slab is thin. The western half of this zone has the most terrain that matches this description. Check out this video for a great explanation of triggering a Persistent Slab from a thin spot. 

When playing in avalanche terrain, you can always stack the odds in your favor by traveling with a knowledgeable partner and avoiding slopes that end in terrain traps, such as thick trees, cliffs, and creek bottoms.

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