Avalanche forecast

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Twelve to twenty-four inches of new snow can be found on all aspects and elevations throughout the zone. This recent storm has resulted in an avalanche prone interface between the old snow and the new storm snow. The best way to manage the danger today is to manage the slope angle. Steep rollovers and slopes near ridges are the most likely places to trigger an avalanche. Be extra cautious on unsupported, open areas near ridgelines.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Over time the soft storm slab will start to settle and become a firmer slab. Until then, be careful of hazzards under the snow such as alder, rocks and downed trees. Also,  skis and snowmobiles are digging deep into the snowpack now, which increases the chances of effecting weak layers below. Pay attentinon to the signs- Cracking, Whomphing, and settling are all RED FLAGS and should keep you on your toes.

    Deep skin track heading up Jeru Peak

Avalanche Discussion

After 12-24’’ of new snow and almost 4’’ of snow water equivalent (SWE) across the zone, we saw a break in weather today which looks like it’ll continue through the weekend. The snow was a welcome sight in the backcountry. Conditions were thin and hollow before the last storm came through. Even though the recent storm helped with coverage, the snow that fell was so light and fluffy that it made for some epic wallowing on the skis and perfect conditions to bury the snowmobiles! It’s not often we see such light, low density snow in the Selkirk/Cabinet Zone.

Yesterday, Micah and I made our way up to Jeru Peak in the Selkirks. We left the trailhead in the Pack River drainage on snowmobiles and eventually switched to skis to make it to the top (5500’). As we made our way up, the lack of wind over the past couple days was evident. The trees were still heavy with snow and there were no signs of wind transport from the trailhead all the way to the ridge. Even on the ridgeline, there were very few signs of wind. Winds are forecasted to be mild over the next week. If it does pick up, there’s a lot of snow available for transport so it will probably create wind slabs and cornices.

Even though the snowpack is soft and seems to lack energy, the old snow and new snow have created a weak interface. We consistently felt whoomphing, saw cracking and had poor stability results when we conducted stability tests on the snow. Extended column tests failed on taps from the wrist and propagating across the column. The slab is soft, but stiff enough to release as one piece. I anticipate that the slab will slowly stiffen over the next week.

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