Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches are unlikely and most slopes are safe. Isolated areas of unstable snow may exist on very steep slopes, particularly at elevations above 9,000'. Be on the lookout for areas where stiff, wind-drifts overlie weak, sugary snow near the ground. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The last significant, reported avalanche in this zone occurred on February 6th when ski patrollers at Bald Mountain intentionally triggered an avalanche during mitigation work before opening the ski area. The slide failed on a wind-loaded slope that sees little ski traffic and harbored weak, sugary, faceted snow in the lower part of the snowpack.

    This exact snowpack scenario—hard, wind-drifted snow overlying weak, faceted snow—is where you're most likely to find unstable conditions today. These slabs often form downwind of prominent terrain features and can sound "drummy" or feel hollow beneath your skis or sled. While triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely, I'd still pay attention in very steep, recently wind-loaded terrain, especially at elevations over about 9000'.

    Additional Discussion: Small, wet loose avalanches (photo) are possible on slopes directly facing the sun. In recent days, several little wet slides released on west-facing slopes where the snowpack was only 12-18" thick. 

Avalanche Discussion

LOW Danger: The Banner Summit and Wood River Valley & Soldier Zones are at LOW danger. When the danger is LOW triggering an avalanche is unlikely and most slopes are safe. Could you trigger an avalanche at LOW danger? Certainly, but you'd have to find one of the very few spots in the range with unstable snow. If you dropped 50 people off and told them to ski or ride the steepest, wind-loaded slopes they could find, someone would probably trigger a slab avalanche. It's nearly impossible to definitively predict which slope(s) are "triggerable", but we can hedge our bets by thinking about the consequences of small avalanches where we're playing. If you don't like the looks of what's below you—trees, cliffs, roads or other terrain traps—then move to a different part of the slope or another area altogether.

Today's Canvas is Tomorrow's Problem: As you head out today keep an eye on the current snow surface. Yesterday in the Soldier Mountains, I found an ugly and relatively widespread combination of crusts and facets at middle elevations (video). In relatively sheltered areas, you may notice a variety of thin crusts and "recycled powder" (facets) that sound and feel "hissy" when you're skiing or riding. This is a result of near-surface faceting caused by the combination of the sun angle and cool, winter temperatures. It's looking like we'll have some snow to celebrate this weekend. Noting the snow surface today can help you anticipate how the stability may change with minor changes in aspect or slope angle this weekend. 

Regions covered