Avalanche forecast

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Near ridgelines and upper elevations above treeline you will find unstable windslabs as pockets of instability.  They are gaining strength but still could be triggered in steep terrain or where isolated.  Steep crossloaded slopes and gullies will also be pockets of instability today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Yesterday I skiied to Big Blue to take a look at all aspects around the top of the mountain.  The first approach from a SE aspect was extremely crossloaded but not steep enough to slide.  If it had been steep enough I would have chosen a different route through the trees.  On an east aspect the surface was bulletproof and scoured to nearly the Lucky Friday crust.  No slide potential there unless you would find a crossloaded slab over the top of the hard surface.  The north aspect held the most new snow and at the top it was very windscoured.  Off the top a fed hundred feet is where you might find some touchy slabs so expect some changes in the stability as you ascend or descend on north aspects.  On the south and west aspect of Blue I found tolerable surface conditions but still highly wind effected even at lower elevations.  Today you will notice a lot of variability with regards to wind effect.  The hazard is moderate across most of the terrain because the wind had seized up the pack.  However, big terrain features like the leewared side of steep ridgelines and steep open faces, crossloaded slopes, gullies, those will be your main concern today since they can hold deep deposits of wind loaded snow.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–2.5

    The persistent slab problem is still with us but reduced in scope since the wind seized up much of the pack where wind effected.  There still are places out there where you could trip this one.  That would be on steep, convex slopes where the snowpack is thinner, and the weak layer weaker.  Also your weight could more easily penetrate to the shallower depth to affect this one.  On westerly aspects be keying in on this type of terrain.  The stuff where you can't see over a rollover, or you can't see to the top from the bottom.  It's tempting to hit these features but that is part of the game of staying alive in avalanche terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

I was surprised how warm it got in the sun yesterday.  I over dressed.  Hopefully you get a little of that today.  Eventually the sun and warmer temperatures will soften the wind harded surface but for now its boilerplate.  You could go for a long slide down a steep east face right now so be careful.  You'll know when you're getting into wind slabs.  It's a very distinct transition.  Just watch yourself as you get up to the summits and steep ridgelines today.  Back off from the edge of cornices.  Snow is expected tonight and it will be falling on a gym floor so that may not be good for avalanche hazard for the next few days.

Regions covered