Avalanche forecast

Salmon River Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Large human-triggered avalanches are likely on sheltered, steep slopes and near cornices and ridgelines. Unstable areas of wind-drifted new snow are also possible, and most likely on east through northwest aspects. Cautious route-finding and good travel protocols are necessary, and the snowpack should be evaluated in a safe place. Keep your eyes on your partners.

 

 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Over a foot of new snow since 2/14 with Southern winds reaching into the 30mph range have elevated the avalanche danger. Avalanche conditions are most dangerous in wind-exposed terrain. Wind slabs will be most common (and dangerous) at upper elevations, but this week's wind also drifted some open terrain in the middle and lower elevations. 

    Triggering a wind slab is most likely near ridgelines, beneath cornices, and on the sides of cross-loaded gullies.

    Avoid slopes steep enough to slide where you see evidence of wind loading such as drifted, pillowed areas,  or feel denser/stiffer snow beneath your board(s) or sled. These avalanches can be large enough to bury people. Additionally, they can trigger or "step down" to Persistent Slab avalanches as they move downslope.

    Steep, wind-loaded slopes should be off limits today, regardless of what elevation band you are in.  

     

     

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    We have a couple persistent slab problems in our snowpack:

    1) Valentine's day we buried a layer of surface hoar and we are now seeing unstable propigating results in our test pits and getting reports of riders triggering avalanches remotely Wednesday. This layer is sensitive and is buried now down around 1-2 feet below the surface.

    2) Weak snow composed of surface hoar and near-surface facets from a prolonged high-pressure spell was buried 2/8. This snow is around ~2-3 feet deep on West Mountain and up to ~2.5-3.5 feet deep in the Salmon River Zone. Though becoming less likely, you are most likely to encounter this problem on shaded slopes facing NW-N-NE above 6,500 feet.

    ***Be extra cautious around steep slopes that have been protected from the sun and wind, such as terrain features similar to those shown in the photo on the right. Persistent slab avalanches are becoming difficult to trigger. As more time has passed since the last major storm, it is unlikely that there will be any clear feedback (such as cracking, collapsing, or whumpfing) before an avalanche. The weight of a snowmachine is much more likely to affect buried weak layers than a person's weight. 

    (2/18/2026) Photo: George Halcom

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday, we had unstable results in our pits on a layer of buried surface hoar from Valentine's Day---we also heard 3rd hand reports of riders remote triggering avalanches in the salmon river mountains near McCall. Buried surface hoar can allow you to get too far into a slope before it fails (propagating fast above and wide) and any indicators or red flags like cracking  may not present until it is too late. Terrain selection and good travel protocols are prudent with persistent weak layers in the snowpack. It is not wise to think that you are able to outsmart this problem. 

With all of this new soft and dry snow we can expect that dry loose sluffing is going to be happening within the upper 1-2 feet of the snowpack in steep terrain with you and probably without you naturally. 

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