Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering a 1-3’ thick slab avalanche remains a possibility today. The likelihood is highest in steep, rocky terrain where last weeks winds built slabs, adding stress to these layers. You can reduce your risk by avoiding this type of terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Although this zone remained dry during last week’s storms, strong to extreme winds were able to most around older snow and build fresh slabs. These slabs added weight to the weak snow buried underneath, increasing the likelihood of triggering a slab on buried weak layers. This is exactly what happened last week when ski patrollers were able to trigger an avalanche during avalanche mitigation work (photo at right).

    Triggering a slide on one of these weak layers is unlikely, but still in the realm of possibility. The chance of encountering a sensitive slab is highest in exposed, wind-loaded terrain steeper than about 35 degrees, including cross-loaded gullies lower on slopes.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday, Chris did a good job highlighting the variability in snowpack character that exist throughout our advisory zones. I’d recommend clicking this link and scrolling down to read his Forecast Discussion to see what he had to say. 

The weather may change quickly, but the types of problems that we are dealing with in our snowpack don’t. Today will be another beautiful day in the mountains; sunshine and soft snow most everywhere you look. But don’t let the picture perfect weather lull you into thinking that the snowpack is perfect too. Hidden under the new snow that fell last week and into the weekend (sorry good people of the WRV), are weak layers of snow that should be keeping you on your toes. 

Yesterday, an experienced backcountry traveler relayed his experience in an observation that is worth reading. Although his group had hoped to enter more consequential avalanche terrain, they didn’t let their desire distract them from the hazards posed by the snowpack. After some snowpack research (hand pits and snowpack tests) and thoughtful consideration of the season’s snowpack history, they decided to reset their objective to something a bit less ambitious and were rewarded with great skiing in the sun. Remember, you can’t go riding tomorrow if you don’t come home safely tonight.

Regions covered