Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Snow coverage in the Wood River Valley mountains is sparse. If you're searching out snowier terrain in the Soldiers and the South Fk of the Boise River drainage, refer to the Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns forecast. In areas with enough snow to keep you off of the ground, you may be able to trigger avalanches large enough to bury a person.

We will begin issuing Daily Avalanche Forecasts with danger ratings for this zone when snow cover increases. 

Where you find enough snow for skiing and riding,  you may be able to trigger 1-2 foot thick slab avalanches. Yesterday, in the Soldiers, we observed the crown of a large avalanche. The slide was at least 500' wide and failed in a wind-loaded area on weak snow near the base of the snowpack (photo). This slab over weak layer setup was found on both middle and upper elevation slopes and produced unstable snowpack test scores. 

Without a slab, dry, loose facet-lanches involving the entire snowpack are possible in very steep terrain. While these sluffs should not be large enough to bury you, they are deceptively powerful and can knock you off of your feet or sled. Think about the consequences of being caught in a slide before skiing, riding, or crossing any steep slopes. Being carried through exposed rocks, logs, stumps, and trees rarely ends well.

Have you been out playing in this zone? Submit an Observation, email us ([email protected]), or text us (208-481-5921), we'd love to hear from you.