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

Recent storm snow and winds have created pockets of wind packed snow that may be triggered in steep terrain at Treeline and above today. Take the time to assess the potential for sensitive wind slabs at your location before entering terrain steeper than 35 degrees. If the upper snowpack is slabby and cohesive, your best option is to choose lower angle terrain that is protected from the wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Friday night rolled in with close to a foot of light, cold snow and artic winds. This left us with pockets of wind blown snow at Treeline and above. It is likely you will find pockets of wind slab in gullies or terrain directly below ridgelines on any aspect. Some of these slabs are resting on crust layers and sugary snow. Triggering these slabs will remain possible today, though they will be more difficult and resistant to triggering as they have time to heal.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1

    So much low density powder to be found out there! In areas where it hasn't been blown into a cohesive slab it may "sluff" easily down the hill in steep terrain. In many areas the new snow is resting on a crust layer and flows easily down the hill when traversed with skis. Not as dangerous as a slab avalanche, but take a look at the potential consequences of getting caught in a small avalanche before dropping into steep terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

Well, it was a bit chilly Monday and there was a shiny layer of fresh surface hoar growing on the snowpack. The upside is the wonderful "blower pow" that can be found in sheltered terrain at the moment. So much good snow to be found right now in these conditions. We dug our pit on a north aspect at the lower edge of treeline where we found stable snowpack conditions. The only avalanche concern at lower elevations is generating loose snow "sloughing" in very steep terrain. The cold, light snow is resting on a pretty firm crust and kicks loose easily under foot. At upper elevations the new snow has been blown around and compacted from various directions with the primary winds coming out of the north and east over the weekend. Today the winds will be out of the south and west. Wind slabs will be found anywhere a depression or ridge has created a spot for wind transported snow to gather and compact. Again, the best (and safest riding) can be found in open timber where the new snow is sheltered from the stout winds and has remained soft and light.

There are still persistent weak layers in the upper snowpack consisting of crust layers, facets and buried surface hoar in isolated locations. Many of the slabs that have been created by the recent winds are resting on these weak interfaces at upper elevations. For the sake of brevity I am not including these layers in the "Problems" section. Note however, they are out there under the wind-loaded snow. The deeper layers in the snowpack such as surface hoar and facets around our two prominent crust layers are not showing the potential to fail at this time. I am starting to find that the snowpack is losing some strength at the interface with the Christmas Crust. Not a concern for the time being; however, it is something I am thinking about and monitoring in case we ever see another heavy snowload or a rain on snow event.

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