Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You’re most likely to trigger a large, thick avalanche on steep slopes facing the northern two-thirds of the compass, where the wind frequently blows or the snowpack depth is variable. In the eastern part of the zone, where the snowpack is thinner, your odds of finding trouble are greater.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Slabs that formed in early February rest above a variety of ugly, widespread, weak layers (facets, surface hoar, crusts, and combinations). Tuesday, a large persistent slab avalanche was triggered on a NW facing slope on Patterson Pk above Hailey.

    Observers and professionals around the Wood River Valley continue to report frequent collapsing or whumpfing. These are clear signs that triggering one of these slides remains a real possibility. Persistent Slabs can release in surprising ways and break much wider than expected. You are most likely to trigger a dense, 2-4 foot thick avalanche where:

    • The snowpack is less than about 4 feet thick—this is the case on many slopes surrounding the Wood River Valley. Relatively shallower spots may exist where the wind frequently blows.
    • 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

Triggering a large persistent avalanche remains possible—especially in the eastern portion of this zone, where the snowpack depth is thinner. On Wednesday, we found a relatively shallow and poorly structured snowpack near Hydman Ck, and Zach said it well: "Although the problem presents as stubborn, it's still keeping us out of avalanche terrain in areas where we can affect the weak snow below... which is most places...". Yesterday in the Soldiers, Ethan found a relatively deeper snowpack than in the Wood River Valley. In these deeper areas, he expressed that a skier and rider are less likely to affect buried January weak layers. However, in wind-swept and weathered areas, the snowpack was thinner—making it easier for a skier or rider to trigger a slide. This information, accompanied by recent avalanche activity in the Wood River Valley,  on Patterson Pk and Sun Mountain, continues to give us pause about stepping into steeper terrain where a shallow snowpack exists. These avalanches occurred on shaded (NW-NE-E) aspects where the snowpack was generally shallow, less than about 4 feet deep.  Remember that tracks on a slope do not mean it's safe. Avalanches could be triggered after multiple people have skied the slope. 

 

Regions covered