Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Northerly, sheltered terrain is holding good quality riding and skiing right now.  Solar aspects exposed to the sun will have a sun crust and be susceptible to daily warming with the increased sun angle.  Areas that have experienced recent wind loading should be approached with some caution as they could still be reactive to human triggers.  Weak layers near the January 13th rain crust are still present two to four feet below the snow surface and have potential to be triggered on open, exposed terrain holding a thinner snow pack.  

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    Facets around the 1/13 rain crust are buried 2-4' deep.  While they are stubborn in most locations there is still potential to trigger a large avalanche on this layer where the snowpack is thin.  These areas can likely be found on south and westerly aspects in steep, open, and rocky terrain at treeline above.  Minimizing exposure to these aspects and terrain features is the best option to avoid trouble.  The best snow conditions are on sheltered northerly aspects where the snow is staying soft and the snowpack is deepest.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wind from the southwest formed reactive wind slabs on north and east aspects this past weekend.  Snow that fell Friday night into Saturday was transported by a northeasterly wind forming fresh windslabs on a firm, scoured southwesterly facing surface.  Expect to find a variety of surface conditions at upper elevations today and be on the lookout for dense pillows, hollow feeling snow, cracking near ridgelines and below steep, rocky terrain today.  While likely to be small, a windslab avalanche has potential to step down to deeper weak layers in the wrong spot.  Avoid loaded areas with terrain traps such as cliffs, depressions, or trees below you.  Look for planar slopes with good runouts to minimize the consequences of being caught by a windslab.

Avalanche Discussion

The last week has produced some amazing riding conditions!  Across the Kootenai observers reported deep, soft snow on shaded aspects protected from the wind.  Today was no exception as we traveled to the southern Purcells to keep tabs on the persistent weak layer we've been emphasizing, for what seems like, most of the winter now.   In reality we've been dealing with a layer of facets surrounding the "Lucky Friday" crust (formed on Friday the 13th, in January) since it was  buried by snow, for about a month and a half.  With spring around the corner this weak layer has not healed and is still lurking, waiting for a load, a warming trend, or rain event strong enough to finally captalize on.  I am still leary of testing this layer in consequential terrain.  Around our region in the last 5-10 days, multiple avalanches have failed on a persistent weak layer.   Don't let your guard down now.

Cornice's have been and will continue to be on my radar in the coming weeks.  Many are well developed and poised overhead or underfoot at upper elevations.  While stomping around on small inconsequential cornices recently, I was reminded just how far back they can break. Limiting time spent on or below this hazard will be a prudent practice going forward as well.  Cornice failure has potential to trigger a larger avalanche so be sure to identify this hazard before making the decision to ski, approach, or cross avalanche terrain underneath a developed cornice.

In the short term, mountain weather looks to remain cold enough to keep conditions soft in the absence of sun.  On the flip side, the sun angle and increased daylight has the potential to warm the snow surface and increase both weight and lubrication on solar aspects. While traveling in the mountains in the coming days, pay attention to the changing snow conditions and anticipate changes due to temperature, aspect, elevation, etc.

Regions covered