Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A long list of problems today can be handled with a simple solution. Avoid terrain steeper than 30 degrees at treeline and above and you should be able to avoid the avalanche hazard. Wind slabs will be the biggest threat to your safety today and remember that getting injured out there with negative wind chills is not an option. Keep it conservative under these conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–2.5

    The persistent slab persists! Yesterdays stability tests showed that our weak layer required more force to initiate failure and propagation; however, it is still there. In the East Cabinets you will likely find a sandwich of crusts and weak, sugary snow about 18" deep. In the Purcells and West Cabinets the layer of concern is buried surface hoar (see photo).  With a new layer of snow these weak layers are now a little deeper and more consequential. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Fresh snow and strong winds have created reactive wind slabs in open terrain at treeline and above. The storm this past weekend dropped 8-10" into the East Cabinets and 2-8" across other areas. Southwest winds initially loaded  north and east aspects before a cold front switched things up with strong north easterly winds. Expect to find pockets of reactive wind slab on all aspects today. It will be possible that you may even find small wind slabs below treeline in open terrain. The minimal snowfall at lower elevations will likely keep these wind slabs small and relatively harmless below tree line.

  • Loose Dry

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

    The weekend storm finished off with cool temperatures and cold, low density snow.  This surface snow will slough easily in steep terrain, especially where it is resting on firm and crusty surfaces. At upper elevations there is plenty of volume in this surface snow to cause problems. Today is not the day to jump into steep and high consequence terrain as the amount of sloughing could easily take you for a ride at upper elevations.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday's observations were taken in the East Cabinets.  With cold and harsh conditions out there one thing becomes obvious to anyone who has spent time in the mountains: You do not want to get hurt and lay on the ground with sub-zero wind chills. Keep this fact in the front of your mind when assessing risk and choosing objectives for the day.

In regards to the snowpack, two of our problems should resolve relatively quickly. Windslabs and sloughing will diminish with time, be patient and give the snowpack time to adjust to the new snow and wind loading. Our "persistent slab" was proving to be more resistant to failure yesterday, at least in that location. I would still be cautious in sheltered terrain at elevations between 5,500' and 6,500' on northerly aspects. If there is a place to trigger a stiff and dangerous slab right now, that is where you will likely find it. I am particularly concerned with a pronounced layer of buried surface hoar layer in the West Cabinets and Purcells as it was still collapsing under foot last Thursday. The weather is predicted to moderate with slight warming each day and very little moisture in the forecast, which should improve stability as the week progresses. Stay safe and stay warm!

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