The Avalanche Hazard throughout the West Central Mountains is LOW today. The chances of triggering a slab avalanche are decreasing but still possible on steep, shaded, rocky terrain where the snowpack is more variable. Small wind slabs may still be lurking in wind-loaded terrain as well. Sluffs or small, loose snow avalanches are possible on all steep terrain. While the hazard level is dropping right now, don't take this as a blanket statement to go into full send mode. Mountain snowpacks are complex and highly variable no matter how we rate them.
Low Hazard does not mean no hazard. Your best and safest bet is to utilize all of your senses and skills to evaluate terrain as you move through the mountains and maintain good travel protocols. If something looks suspicious or the snow feels touchy, take the time to figure out why or avoid it.
It hasn't gotten quite as warm this week as last week yet. You may see roller ball or point release activity on slopes getting direct sun today as the new snow heats up. Temperatures are going to continue to warm into the weekend so expect to see more of this through Sunday afternoon.
If you are poking into steeper terrain over the next few days, keep in mind that the new snow can move with you in terrain steeper than 30 degrees. Sluff management on steep slopes with exposure will help keep you from getting pushed into places like rocks, cliffs, or tree wells.
Our snowpack continues to gain strength as we move closer to Spring. This week's storm really improved the skiing and riding after last week's heatwave. All but the most sun-affected slopes are skiing and riding great right now. Skiers, sledders, and moto riders are all getting into more committing terrain. There are still weak layers lurking in the snowpack and while you are less likely to trigger them right now, you should still be thinking about them as you move through the terrain, especially on a sled or moto. The amount of terrain a motorized user can hit in a day is exponentially greater than that of a skier. Statistically speaking, you are much more likely to find an area where there may be exceptions to our current Danger Rating. Keep that in mind and maintain good travel protocols as well as keeping tabs on your companions as you travel. Sunny days and soft snow are the best no matter what your mode of travel, enjoy it but don't throw caution to the wind just because of a rating or because it seems safe. Check out this great discussion and explanation of a forecaster's perception of Avalanche Danger Ratings from our friends at the Sawtooth Avalanche Center. This describes how you should interpret Low hazard. Scroll down to the Discussion Section near the bottom of the page when you click the link.
If you see or trigger avalanche activity, please take the time to snap a picture and note the approximate elevation and aspect, you can submit an observation on our website. Getting your info helps forecasters and other users get a better picture of the conditions throughout our mountains. If you have trouble using our observations page, please email us at: [email protected]
Please be mindful of other users in the mountains, and where you are at. There are closures for motorized travel in and around the local ski areas, in the Lick Creek Canyon, Granite Mtn, Jug Mountain, and other areas throughout our region. Check out the Winter Travel Map to find out where you can shred on your sled or moto. Not all of these areas are signed, it is your responsibility to know where these closures exist.
