Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Avoiding steep slopes with wind-drifted snow or stiff wind-blown snow at the surface will significantly decrease the chances of triggering large avalanches. Today's direct or muted sunshine, and warmer temperatures, could cause some wet loose avalanches to release on their own—rocky, alpine slopes sheltered from the wind are most likley to produce these small to medium sized avalanches. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Yesterday's snowfall and strong to extreme, W-NW wind event caused dozens of natural wind slab avalanches (view recent Observation and photos). While the strong winds have subsided, you could still trigger wind slabs up to 2 feet thick near ridgelines,  on the sides of cross-loaded gullies, and on aprons beneath chutes. The wind slabs appear to be most widespread on E-SE aspects at upper elevations but may exist on other aspects and in middle and lower elevation terrain.   

    Avalanches could be wider than you expect, and easy to trigger, due to subtle persistent weak layers (facets and crust + facet combinations) buried just below the slabs on some slopes.

    Fortunately, managing this problem is relatively simple: Wind-drifted snow will feel stiff and may keep you on the surface. Watch for dunes, drifts, and snow pillows. Cracks shooting out from your skis or boards are a clear sign you've found a wind slab. 

    Additional Discussion - Persistent Slabs:  While unlikely, there's an outside chance you could trigger a wide, 2-3 foot thick avalanche involving persistent weak layers (facets or facet + crust combinations). Wind-loaded slopes above about 8000' that face NW-N-NE-E are most suspect. Signs of instability like snowpack cracking and collapsing (whumpfing) may not be obvious, and the first sign of instability could be triggering an avalanche. 

     

     

    (3/22/2025) Zoomed in view of a couple small, natural wind slab avalanches in the Goat Ck drainage, Boulder Mtns. SE aspects near 10,000'. 

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Loose Wet

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

    Loose snow avalanches are possible on very steep slopes that face the southern half of the compass and are sheltered from the wind. Brief periods of direct sunlight, or extended periods of thin or partial cloud cover (hot, steamy "greenhousing" conditions), could cause natural avalanche activity. These slides often initiate near the base of trees and rocks, gathering snow and growing in size as they move downhill. Today's warm temperatures and sun could also cause cornice chunks to break and entrain snow as they move downhill. 

    Rollerballs, or pinwheels, signify that the snow is heating up, and wet avalanches may soon follow. 

    While most of these slides will start small, they may grow large enough to push you where you don't want to go. Some slides have the potential to flank out into wider slab avalanches as they move downslope. Even small slides can be consequential above terrain traps such as gullies, creeks, and thick timber. Plan your day to avoid lingering under big avalanche paths longer than needed. 

Regions covered