Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Large avalanches are unlikely, and generally stable conditions exist. There's an outside chance of triggering hard wind drifts and slabs at upper elevations. Use normal caution and continue to adhere to safe travel practices.

You are most likely to find trouble on slopes near or over about 40 degrees in steepness. As always, "extreme" alpine terrain deserves our respect; think about where even a small avalanche could carry you before committing to consequential, wind-loaded slopes. Here are a few specific things to consider when planning your day in the mountains:

Wind Slabs: Most wind slabs have stabilized and are not sensitive to the weight of a skier or snowmobiler. That said, pay attention in very steep terrain where hard wind slabs overlie weak, sugary faceted snow. The "hard slabs over facets" can sound or feel hollow or "drummy". They are most widespread in alpine terrain. You'll commonly find them in chutes and couloirs. Old, weathered hard slabs are typically triggered near rocks (buried or exposed) or on the edges where the slab thins to less than 2 feet thick.

Cornices: Some cornices are very large, and many are sagging or overhanging. It can be difficult to tell where solid ground stops and the cornice starts. Give them space when traveling on ridgelines, and limit the time you spend beneath them during the heat of the day. Falling cornices can be great triggers for wind slabs below them (as seen in this observation).