Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

The snowpack will start the day solidly frozen this morning. The likelihood of encountering wet snow avalanches will increase throughout the day as warm air and direct sun melt the snow. These slides are most likely on steep, rocky slopes that face the sun and on slopes at lower elevations. Move to a colder slope if you're finding a thick pile of slushy snow at the surface. 

Temperatures are in the mid to upper 20s F this morning, 10 degrees F warmer than yesterday. Open skies have allowed the snow surface to freeze solidly, but today's warm temperatures and direct sun will change that. Here are a few things to have in your mind as you travel in the mountains:

WET SNOW: Cold temperatures, southerly winds, and occasional clouds kept wet problems from developing yesterday. The snowpack starts out a bit warmer today and air temperatures will be 5-10 degrees warmer than yesterday. Expect to see small wet snow issues developing as the day heats up. These will be most likely on steep, rocky slopes that directly face the sun, and at lower elevations where temperatures will be pushing into the upper 40s F. I anticipate that this will develop into a more significant problem than yesterday. Fortunately, these types of slides are easy to manage. If you find yourself sinking past your boot tops in wet, slushy snow you'll want to find a colder place to play. Pay attention to the terrain above you—if it is steep, rocky, and sun-drenched you may see small wet snow avalanches happening naturally.

DRY SNOW: If you head into upper elevation terrain you will find a much colder, dryer snowpack. Here, you may find some small, lingering wind slabs. These won't be large enough to bury you, but can knock you off your feet and send you for a ride in unpleasant terrain. The big warm-up earlier this week significantly improved the stability of our lingering persistent weak layers, but I haven't written them off entirely. If we received a report about a large avalanche today it would likely involve a dense slab failing on a crust+facet combination in the upper few feet of the snowpack on a very steep, wind-swept slope in the alpine. It is worth spending a few minutes looking at the snowpack and thinking about the consequences of triggering larger slides if you are headed into this type of terrain. 

CORNICES: The snowpack is around 150+% of average. The massive cornices that typically form along ridgelines are even bigger than in a typical year. We have yet to see a widespread shedding of these cornices. Warm temperatures and sunshine cause these beasts to sag and deform, and they will eventually detach from the ridgelines they cling to. Limit the amount of time you spend underneath these giants, and travel well back from their edges— it isn't always obvious where cornices start and stop (take a look at this picture). Cornices behave unpredictably, give them a wide berth.

Yesterday I watched numerous parties climb, ski, and ride steep, high-consequence avalanche terrain in the alpine. I wasn't just a passive observer, I was out there doing the same thing. When the avalanche danger drops we tend to be drawn towards larger, steeper terrain. In that sort of terrain, the outcome of triggering even a small slide that knocks you off your feet can be severe. If you are pushing into steeper, higher consequence terrain, don't turn your avalanche brain off. Take the time this morning to make a plan for your day and talk with your partners about the hazards you might encounter. Pay attention to the snow you are moving through, carry your avalanche rescue gear, and don't be afraid to speak up if you don't like the situation you are in.

This is the final daily avalanche forecast for the 2022-23 winter season. We will continue to issue weather and general avalanche information posts as conditions warrant, beginning tomorrow morning. Thanks to all of you for a memorable season and for all of the great observations, keep them coming into the spring. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and excellent snow coverage, but make returning home safely at the end of the day your ultimate priority. Remember, there are only two ways to ruin a beautiful day in the mountains—by being a jerk or by getting hurt. See you out there, and don't be afraid to say hi if you see us. Questions, comments, or complaints? Drop us a line at [email protected], we'd love to hear from you.