Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The danger will rise to MODERATE during the heat of the day. Wet avalanches are possible on very steep, rocky slopes that directly face the sun. While likely to be small, wet avalanches are hard to escape, and can easily carry you where you don't want to go. Steer clear of slopes where you're sinking into a soggy snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Wet loose avalanches are possible during the heat of the day. Wet slides were reported over the last two days (observation, photo, photo). Yesterday, wet avalanches east of the forecast area temporarily blocked highway 75 between Stanley and Challis.

    Today, expect the threat of wet loose avalanches to increase in the afternoon hours as the sun and warm temperatures turn the snow surface to mush.  Where are these slides most likely?

    • Slopes that directly face the sun.
    • Where the snowpack is thin (less than about 3 feet deep).
    • Slopes with exposed rocks.
    • Areas sheltered from the wind.

    Conditions may change rapidly. That slope you rode yesterday, or 30 minutes ago, may become an issue. Pay attention to what's above you. Wet avalanches release on their own much more frequently than dry avalanches. Avoid the heat of the afternoon. Hit the trailhead early and hit the tailgate early. If your boards or sled are punching deep into the snowpack, stick to gentle slopes or move to shadier terrain.

    (2/10/2022) These wet snow avalanches likely occurred on February 9th, when a night of above freezing temperatures was followed by a very warm, steamy day. The failed on a SW-facing slope at 6,500-6,800'.

Avalanche Discussion

IT'S HOT OUT THERE

Yesterday was the warmest day of the winter and the next few days will be similar. The snowpack is changing rapidly. Weeks of cold, dry weather have faceted the upper portion of the snowpack. In areas with thin snow cover, the entire snowpack transitioned to facets. These heavily faceted snowpacks are the areas where warming will have the biggest impact. Today's warming will turn those piles of sugar into a wet, slushy mess.

Thankfully, wet avalanche problems are easy to plan around. How? Steer clear of soggy snowpacks. Avoid lingering on or below steep sun-drenched slopes. Stick to cooler, shadier slopes, or call it an early day. These tips will not only keep you safer but will help you find better snow to enjoy. If you're finding cold snow, here are some additional problems to consider: 

WIND SLABS: Saturday, a skier triggered a wind slab avalanche (crown photo, debris photo) near Imogene Peak in the Sawtooth Mtns. The skier was able to escape the small slide that broke about a foot deep and 50' wide.  Look for similar slabs in exposed terrain, predominantly at upper elevations. What do the wind slabs look like? Surface texture such as ripples or dunes indicates the wind has transported snow. Be alert to changes in how the snow feels as well. If it quickly gets denser and stiffer, you probably found an isolated slab. The slabs overlie weak, faceted snow on some slopes and could be easier to trigger than you'd expect.

DEEP PERSISTENT SLABS: Weak, faceted snow exists near the base of the snowpack on shady, middle and upper elevation slopes. Triggering a deep persistent slab avalanche on this layer is unlikely, but it's not impossible on slopes with the following characteristics:

  • Very steep: slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.
  • Rocky: slopes with variable snow cover due to the roughness of the terrain.
  • Wind-affected: slopes where December and January's strong winds produced variable snow depths.

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