Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Problemas de aludes

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Possible

  Tamaño

  1–2

  Slabs exist above widespread, weak layers (facets, surface hoar, crusts, and combinations). Persistent Slab avalanches are most likely in thinner snowpacks around the Wood River Valley. Before triggering an avalanche, you may not experience obvious signs of instability like snowpack cracking and collapsing or whumpfing. Persistent Slabs can release in surprising ways and break much wider than expected. You are most likely to trigger a dense, 2-4 foot thick avalanche where:

  • The snowpack is less than 4 feet thick—relatively shallower spots may exist where the wind frequently blows, and the slab is not uniformly thick.
  • Any part of the slope you are on or connected to is steeper than about 35 degrees
  • The slope faces the northern 2/3 of the compass
  • A smaller wind slab or loose snow avalanche overloads the buried weak layers

  Additional Discussion - Wind Slabs: In the Soldiers, recent snowfall and strong SW-W-NW wind built slabs in areas exposed to the wind. On some slopes, slabs formed on crusts and/or weak snow, and avalanches could be easy to trigger or break wider than you expect. Slabs often form near ridgelines, along steep mid-slope gullies, or on aprons below steep cliffs. You can reduce your chances of triggering a wind slab by avoiding slopes with obvious signs of wind-loading, such as new cornice growth and large dunes or pillows of wind-blown snow.

  

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Possible

  Tamaño

  1–2

  Anticipate loose snow avalanches on very steep, rocky slopes receiving direct sun. Avalanche activity is most likely on S-facing slopes by midday and on W-facing terrain this afternoon. These slides often initiate near the base of trees and rocks, gathering snow and growing in size as they move downhill. Rollerballs, or pinwheels, signify that the snow is heating up, and wet avalanches may soon follow. 

  While most will start small, they will be plenty large enough to knock you off your feet and carry you into unwanted terrain. Even small slides are consequential above terrain traps such as gullies, creeks, and thick timber. Plan your day to avoid lingering under steep, sunny slopes.