Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Issued Feb 26, 2021valid to Feb 27, 2021Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center

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Avalanche danger

Sat

Alpine

3 · Considerable

Treeline

3 · Considerable

Below

2 · Moderate

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The new snow came in on Thursday light and cold! It will only be a concern in open areas where it was exposed to the wind and packed into a cohesive slab. Pay attention to the snow surface and watch for cracking or dense surface conditions. The riding should be fantastic this weekend in sheltered areas that are protected from the wind. I personally would continue to stay off of steep terrain this weekend. Small windslabs near treeline will be a threat as well as the persistent slab issues that plague the area. Remain patient and save the big lines for a later day!

Avalanche problems

Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1–2
The Cabinets picked up a foot of new snow and the Purcells are clocking in with 5-7" of fresh, low-density powder. The new snow wasn't much of a concern yesterday as it is too loose to cause a real slab issue. More open areas at the higher elevation bands will allow this new snow to be exposed to the wind which may create more cohesive and slabby conditions today. Again, pay attention to cracking at the surface and a dense slabby feel under foot. At treeline and below this new snow will be resting on a thin crust from Mondays' warm and rainy conditions. For now the new snow will be light and loose, making for some great turns!
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
1–2
Thursday gave us a nice shot of snow area wide that fell light and cold. In areas at treeline and above this new snow will be transported and packed into small and cohesive slabs. Winds transitioned from southwest to westerly today, so pay attention to areas on the north and east side of the mountain at treeline and up into the alpine. The higher you get the more potential this problem will have. As usual, pay attention to the surface of the snow, dense surface conditions and cracking at the surface will be your obvious clues. See the video below to check out such a slab that we remote triggered on Monday in the Purcell Range.
Deep Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2–3
Persistence! Surface hoar and facets near the January 13th rain crust are at the front of my mind when I head into the mountains right now. These tricky layers of concern will vary in depth and sensitivity.

Cabinets-Look for buried surface hoar about 4-5 feet below the surface. I have been seeing very little reaction out of it in stability tests; but, last weekend a couple of snowmobilers triggered a 3 foot deep slab on Smith Mountain. It's still around and often difficult to predict where it may still be reactive.

Purcells-Same buried surface hoar layer but it will be about 2 feet below the surface and much more likely to react in that part of the galaxy. On Monday we had propagation in our stability tests with light to moderate force. The wind slab we triggered below ridgeline was also resting on this nasty little bugger. The other concern in the Purcell Range will be weak, sugary snow near our January rain crust.
Persistent slab remotely triggerd by snowmobilers in the West Cabinets last weekend. Buried surface hoar is the likely culprit!