Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Triggering a large slab avalanche is unlikely. Avoiding steep slopes on the northern two thirds of the compass is the best way to avoid triggering an avalanche, especially in the eastern part of the zone near highway 75 where the snowpack is thinner. Cornices are large and may be unstable given the recent warm temperatures—give them a wide berth.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2

    Slabs exist above widespread, weak layers (facets, surface hoar, crusts, and combinations). Persistent Slab avalanches are most likely in thinner snowpacks around the Wood River Valley. Before triggering an avalanche, you're unlikely to experience obvious signs of instability like snowpack cracking and collapsing (or whumpfing). Persistent Slabs can release in surprising ways and break much wider than expected. You are most likely to trigger one of these avalanches where:

    • The snowpack is relatively shallow - spots may exist where the wind frequently blows, and the slab is not uniformly thick
    • Any part of the slope you are on or connected to is steeper than about 35 degrees
    • The slope faces the northern 2/3 of the compass
    • A smaller wind slab or loose snow avalanche overloads the buried weak layers

    (2/18/2025) A skier on Patterson Pk near Hailey triggered this large avalanche. After several turns on the slope, the slide broke above and around them. Thankfully, the skier was able to ski ahead and to the side of the slab. NW @ 8,050'. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

We're four days into warm temperatures and have seen the majority of the unconsolidated surface snow, that was capable of moving, avalanche naturally. Today's lower temperatures, increased consistent wind speeds and increased cloud cover is expected to keep the snow surface cooler. If the cloud cover and temperatures work together without wind to create a "greenhousing" effect - where it suddenly feels like you're in a grey colored oven - you may be able to trigger small wet loose avalanches as the snow surface moistens again, particularly on steep slopes.

Be wary of traveling near or under sagging cornices. Warm temperatures may have weakened these overhanging cornices roots, and they may be prone to failure.

Triggering a large persistent slab avalanche is unlikely. However, if you were to find trouble, it would likely be east of HWY 75 in the Wood River Valley, where the snowpack remains generally shallow. Friday, on Patterson Peak, Ethan noted that you would most likely find this problem on very steep, previously wind-loaded slopes facing NW, N, or NE. 

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