Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist. Large, natural, and human-triggered avalanches are unlikely. Finding trouble will likely require very steep or extreme terrain. 

Avalanche Discussion

The snowpack is generally stable. Triggering a significant avalanche is unlikely but not out of the question. Here are a couple of avalanche concerns to consider before committing to very steep terrain:

  • Persistent Slabs may linger in some shaded, rocky alpine cirques. You're most likely to find trouble on slopes with a variable snowpack depth that are steeper than about 35 degrees. Exposed rocks and textured snow surfaces are visual clues that can help identify suspect slopes.
  • Sluffs or "facet-lanches" are possible in shaded, very steep terrain (approaching 40 degrees in steepness) where the upper 6–12" of the snowpack are unconsolidated. These shouldn't be large enough to bury a person, but they could pack a punch, knocking you off your feet or carrying you where you don’t want to go.

You can always hedge your bets when skiing or riding in avalanche terrain by traveling with a knowledgeable partner and avoiding slopes that end in terrain traps, such as thick trees, cliffs, and creek bottoms.

Regions covered