Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche conditions remain scary. You are likely to trigger a large, 2-4 foot thick avalanche—even in lower elevation terrain near the valley floors—on many steep slopes. Avalanches may be triggered remotely—from gentler terrain above, below, and to the sides of steep slopes. Be careful. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    What is it?  Skiers and riders triggered avalanches in this and/or the Wood River Valley zone Sunday, Monday, and yesterday.2-4 foot thick slabs overlie persistent weak layers (sugary facets, surface hoar, or crusts) on most aspects and elevations. Slopes sheltered from the wind are suspect, and recently wind-loaded slopes are especially dangerous. Read the Forecast Discussion for a recap of recent avalanche events. 

    Where is it?  The recent storm formed or thickened slabs everywhere, and the weak layers are widespread.  Tuesday, we observed about 100 recent avalanches, spanning most aspects and elevations. Conditions are unusually dangerous in lower elevation terrain. While the majority of the recent avalanches occurred on W-N-E aspects, observers reported snowpack collapsing on sunnier SW-S-SE slopes yesterday. 

    How can you recognize it?  This persistent slab problem is about as widespread as it gets; assume it exists on all slopes that have not already avalanched. You're likely to experience snowpack collapsing and/or cracking while traveling. These red flags are obvious signs of instability. Wind-loaded areas feel stiffer under your skis or sled and keep you from easily sinking into the snowpack; these areas are especially dangerous.         

    How can you manage it?  Avoiding slopes steep enough to slide is the only surefire way to manage this problem.Persistent slab avalanches are tricky. If you're playing near steep slopes, you are likely to trigger slides remotely (from gentler terrain above, below, and to the sides of steep slopes—explanatory video here). These avalanches may break wider than expected or higher on the slope above you. 

    (12/12/2022) Snowmobilers riding in the Boulder Foothills on Monday, Dec 12, remotely triggered this avalanche while riding in a flat meadow below. It released 800-1000' above them. It released from approximately 9300' on a W aspect.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday's visibility window allowed all of us to check out the recent avalanche carnage (observation 1, observation 2). Of the countless slides we observed, many looked quite fresh (from Monday or Tuesday, after snowfall ceased). Undoubtedly, hundreds of avalanches released earlier in the storm but were hidden by additional snowfall and wind-loading. Dozens of slides reached valley floors, and several impacted the urban interface. Here's a quick rundown of some of the observed activity: 

  • Skiers and snowmobilers triggered or remotely triggered several avalanches in the past 3 days. Other parties reported large, loud snowpack collapsing in gentle terrain.
  • Monday, a skier was caught and carried by an avalanche on Scorpion, an out-of-bounds run near the Warm Springs base of Bald Mountain. Nearby skiers helped extricate him, and he was transported to the hospital to treat unknown injuries. Another group remotely triggered a large slide in the Trail Ck drainage near Ketchum.
  • A very large avalanche occurred in the Warm Springs drainage near Frenchman's Hot Spring (photo). This slide reportedly damaged a vehicle and a structure. Warm Springs Road was blocked by another large avalanche from a path that hasn't slid in recent memory. 
  • Della Mountain west of Hailey avalanched in many locations, with multiple slides running to the valley bottom. Debris blocked and temporarily diverted the Big Wood River, causing minor flooding and slush flows (photos and more details here).
  • At least three houses were hit by avalanches around the city of Ketchum.
  • A large natural avalanche was observed in the sidecountry or out-of-bounds terrain known as "The Burn" just outside the Bald Mountain ski area boundary. The crown of this avalanche was 3-4 feet thick (photo).
  • Dozens and dozens of roof avalanches were observed. Though relatively small, these can easily be deadly. 
  • Highway 75 near Galena Summit was blocked by an avalanche, reopening Monday afternoon
  • Multiple large natural avalanches (D3 in size) failed above the East Fork of the Big Wood River on Sunday, running over 2000 vertical feet to the valley floor.

The storm has ended, but the persistent slab problem has not. The stakes are high—triggering an avalanche large enough to bury you is likely. For the time being, conservative choices are essential and avalanche terrain avoidance is the name of the game.

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