Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Avalanches are unlikely, and avalanche concerns are limited. It’s been two weeks since the last measurable snowfall. Cover your bases by continuing to carry avalanche rescue gear, going one at a time on steep slopes and having a partner watching from a safe spot.

We will begin issuing daily Avalanche Forecasts with Danger Ratings when snow cover allows for reasonable backcountry recreational access. 

A snowpack exists on many slopes above about 6500' near the Coyote and Tornak huts; in the Warm Springs Ck drainage, including out of bounds on Bald Mountain; in the mountains north of Ketchum; and in the Soldier Mountains. If you're traveling in these areas, refer to the Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns forecast.

Most of the low elevations and sun-facing slopes only received snowfall during the late December and January storms. Access and travel remain challenging in many standard recreational play areas due to thin or non-existent snow cover. Plan for a real adventure if you choose to explore the mountains in this zone.

You are most likely to find trouble on slopes with a steepness of about 40 degrees or greater. As always, "extreme" terrain deserves our respect; think about where even a small avalanche could carry you before committing to consequential, wind-loaded slopes. Here are a few specific things to consider when planning your day in the mountains:

Wind Slabs: Most wind slabs have stabilized and are not sensitive to the weight of a skier or snowmobiler. That said, pay attention in very steep terrain where hard wind slabs overlie weak, sugary faceted snow. These are most widespread in windy upper elevation terrain that faces away from the afternoon sun (NW-N-NE-SE aspects). The "hard slabs over facets" can sound or feel hollow or "drummy". You'll commonly find them in chutes and couloirs. Old, weathered hard slabs are typically triggered near rocks (buried or exposed) or on the edges where the slab thins to less than 2 feet thick.

Cornices: Some cornices are very large, and many are sagging or overhanging. It can be difficult to tell where solid ground stops and the cornice starts so give them space when traveling on ridgelines. Falling cornices can be great triggers for wind slabs below them.