Lawinenlagebericht

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Wed
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 3 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Currently the snowpack conditions are stable across the Kootenai Zone. The primary avalanche hazards today will be the potential for small, wet loose avalanches in steep terrain exposed to the sun. To avoid this potential, pay attention to the surface of the snowpack and relocate to shaded aspects or lower angle terrain in the afternoon hours.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1

    Last weekend we received a small shot of snow across the area. This most recent snowfall is resting on a firm sun crust in many locations. As the sun comes out today it will be possible that very small wet loose avalanches could be triggered in steep terrain exposed to the sun. It is unlikely these avalanches will be big enough to bury you, but they can knock you off your feet in steep terrain. The West Cabinets picked up a little more snow from the last storm so wet loose avalanches may be slightly bigger in that range. If you notice the surface of the snowpack becoming soft and slushy or observe avalanches releasing in steep terrain exposed to the sun, these are your clues that it may be time to avoid steep slopes exposed to the sun.

  • Glide Cracks

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    2–3

    Glide cracks are beginning to appear in the mountains as we enter spring and the daily freeze-thaw cycles that come with it. Glide cracks are the large "frown shaped" cracks that appear in the mountains on slopes where the bed surface consists of grass or rock. Glide avalanches are very unpredictable but easily managed. If you see large cracks on the slope above you will want to avoid riding or hanging out on slopes below them, especially if it is warm and sunny. When glide cracks do release, they can produce avalanches that are large and deadly.

Avalanche Discussion

The past two weeks have been ideal spring riding weather with daily cycles of cold nights, mild days, and sunshine. There is still soft, cold snow to be found in north facing timber. Aspects exposed to the sun and wind have a thin layer of fresh snow resting on a firm bed surface. My travels in the East Cabinets this week have revealed that there are many glide cracks opening on steep slopes that are known to have large rocky slabs or grassy bed surfaces below the snowpack. The layer of fresh snow that fell last weekend was producing some small wet loose activity in steep terrain. Currently the east, south and west aspect are firm in the mornings and start to soften up as the sun warms the surface. Finding that balance between a surface that is soft enough to make good turns in, but not becoming slushy and prone to producing avalanches in the spring can be a challenge. Paying attention to the surface of the snowpack under your feet or machine is key, once the snowpack stops supporting your weight and you are punching through, it is time to seek lower angle terrain or shaded slopes. Enjoy the stable conditions and sunshine out there!

Our last avalanche advisory for the season will be posted on Saturday April 1st!

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