Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Mountains around the Wood River Valley generally lack enough snow to make avalanches. If you're searching out snowier terrain in the Soldiers and the South Fk of the Boise River drainage, refer to the Galena Summit and Eastern 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 failing on weak, sugary faceted snow near the bottom of the snowpack. This video from the neighboring Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns forecast zone provides a sense of the expected conditions. Also, the prolonged drought has weakened the snowpack on many slopes that don't directly face the sun; dry loose avalanches 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.

Snow coverage in the Wood River Valley mountains is sparse. Many slopes lack any snow. The western portion of this zone (Soldiers and South Fk of the Boise) has received more snow, but you'll deal with challenging travel conditions to get out of the valleys. If you choose to do so, pay attention as you climb into a snowier, potentially more hazardous environment. You'll go from dodging stumps and logs to managing the possibility of triggering a large persistent slab avalanche (while dodging stumps and logs).  

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.