Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Very dangerous conditions exist. Avalanches large enough to bury people could release naturally—on their own—and are easy to trigger. To avoid trouble, stay off of, out from beneath, and away from steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Natural and remotely triggered avalanches—slides triggered from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes—are very likely. Avalanches large enough to bury people and break trees could be much wider than expected and triggered from far away. Avalanche crowns could pull into relatively gentle terrain.  

    The "slab" and "weak layer" parts of the avalanche equation are not really variables today; snowfall and wind-transported snow formed slabs on many middle and upper elevation slopes and in isolated locations at lower elevations. Weak layers (facets, crusts and facets, and surface hoar) exist below the storm snow and below last week's storm snow. 

    Today is not the day to try to thread the needle and outsmart the snowpack. We encourage you to sample the amazing sled and ski conditions in mellow terrain that is not on, below, or connected to steep slopes.  

    (2/10/2026) Large slab avalanches on Eureka Pk west of Smiley Ck. Some of these were triggered remotely by a skier. NE @ 9,800-10,000'.

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Whether a weak layer exists or not, the combination of intense snowfall and strong winds makes natural and human-triggered avalanches very likely in windy, upper elevation and alpine terrain. These slides may not be as wide or big as the Persistent Slab avalanches described above, but some Wind Slab avalanches will 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. Avoid playing in areas with overhead hazard—areas below steep, windy slopes that lack dense, live tree stands. 

Avalanche Discussion

Remote weather station data shows a widespread 0.9-1.2" of SWE, about a foot of snow, accumulating last night. However, we don't have weather data above 9000' in the Pioneer or Boulder Mtns, areas that were forecast to receive significantly more water and snowfall from the storm. At upper elevations, the storm may have produced closer to 2 feet of snowfall last night. 

Regions covered