Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The primay concern for the weekend will be our most recent layer of storm snow. This layer consists of the upper 12" of the snowpack. Human triggered avalanches are likely in terrain steeper than 35 degrees at elevations above 5,000' on Friday. The snowpack will continue to settle and stabilize as high pressure and mild weather sets up across the area through Monday.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    On Thursday we observed multiple small slides in steep terrain at upper elevations. Pit results are also showing the most recent storm snow is still bonding to the existing snowpack and may be problematic today. This layer will stabilize and become more difficult to trigger with each passing day. For the weekend I  would take the time to assess the stability of this layer on steep slopes before committing, a quick dig in the upper snowpack should reveal the strength and bonding of the new snow.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Two problems to be thinking about here:

    1. Across the are we have some buried surface hoar in the snowpack. In the Keeler area I found it about 3 feet deep on Monday, in other ranges you may find it closer to the surface. With the recent heavy storm snows it seems to be pretty well smashed out and showing a decreased likelihood of reacting to a human trigger. I would continue to pay attention to steep openings in the timber at elevations from 4,000' up to 6,500'. It's a tricky monster and you will likely have to stop and dig to verify if it is present on the slope you are riding. Look for a thin, gray line in your pits.

    2. Thin layer of weak, sugary snow resting on the early season snow from November. In the Cabinets this is an unlikely problem as the snowpack is thick and cohesive above this layer. In the Purcell Range we have half the snow and triggering this weak layer is still a possibility in steep, rocky terrain at upper elevations. Next week I plan to visit the Purcells to see how our deeper weak layers are shaping up at that location.  

Avalanche Discussion

Here's what I saw out there this week. Monday I went into the Keeler area and found widespread avalanches in all terrain greater that 30 degrees. I also recieved some reliable reports of both human and naturally triggered avalanches on Sunday. Conditions were pretty touchy out there earlier in the week as lots of moisture came down and buried a layer of surface hoar. Thursday we travelled into the East Cabinets. We observed evidence of multiple fresh avalanches in steep terrain at upper elevations. All of these seemed to be a result of our last shot of storm snow from Wednesday. We also spotted on avalanche crown that released all the way to the ground on a steep rock slab on Bald Eagle peak. It was very fresh and likely caved to the pressure of recent snow loading and warm temperatures. The snotel site peaked at 35 degrees at 10 A.M. yesterday before dropping back down. This left a little bit of a thin crust in spots; but, otherwise the riding conditions are pretty good right now. 

 

Regions covered