Salmon River Mountains

Generally stable conditions exist, and large avalanches are unlikely. Expect to find small pockets of loose, dry snow sluffs in steep terrain. Isolated pockets of fresh wind slabs less than 6 inches deep may be lurking above 7,500 feet, just below ridgelines. Continue practicing safe travel habits: make a plan for the day, carry the right gear, and communicate with your group. 

In Idaho, there may be several different ways to call a potato, a potato, but we avalanche forecasters are running out of ways to say, "Low Avalanche Danger".

The mountains have picked up around 2-4 inches of light snow over the past 48 hours. (That's being quite generous). This light snow has not been enough to increase the avalanche danger. Yesterday, George and I snowmobiled out to Poison Lake, just south of Tamarack Resort. You can read that observation HERE. The takeaway was that although weak snow (surface hoar and near-surface facets) was lurking just beneath the snow surface, this will likely not be a problem in the short-term. There is no slab atop this recently buried weak layer, YET. Once we do receive enough snow to form a slab (come on Valentine's Day!), we will have the necessary ingredients to create a widespread avalanche cycle. Until then, large avalanches will remain unlikely with stable snowpack conditions. 

As you head out into the mountains, there are a few considerations:

• Loose Snow: Expect to find small, loose dry sluffs in steep terrain. Sluff management is key in exposed steep terrain with traps like cliffs and gullies.
• Wind Slabs: Very shallow pockets of wind slabs may be lurking above 7,500 feet from recent snowfall. These will generally be less than 6 inches deep and located just below ridgelines and cornices. Be sure to rule out the possibility of wind slabs before committing to steep, consequential terrain. You can do this using your hand or pole to see if the new snow feels stiff and slabby or soft and loose.
• Safe Travel: These are how we build our margins to keep ourselves safe. George calls them "freebies". Safe travel habits should be employed all the time, regardless of the avalanche danger. Make sure everyone in your group is carrying adequate and functioning rescue gear. Form and agree on a travel plan with all members of your group for the day (which terrain do you want to enter and which do you want to avoid). Have ways to communicate amongst your group and keep eyes on your partners at all times. Minimize your group's exposure to avalanche hazard by traveling one at a time through steep terrain. Re-group in safe spots, away from runouts and terrain traps. 

If you're getting out and about in the mountains, drop us an observation HERE.