Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Mostly stable conditions exist, and large avalanches are unlikely. You could trigger isolated, thin pockets of wind-drifted snow in upper elevation and alpine terrain. Loose snow sluffs are possible on very steep slopes shaded from the sun.

The avalanche danger is LOW and there are no clearly defined avalanche problems in this zone. While large avalanches are unlikely, triggering a small avalanche remains a possibility. Here are a couple of problems to keep in mind:

WIND SLABS: Continue to watch for small, isolated wind slabs at upper elevations. Although this zone has little snow to blow around, increased W-SW winds overnight may have formed a fresh round of small wind slabs. Use extra caution where you find signs of fresh wind loading: denser/stiffer surface snow, wind texture, and cracks shooting out from your skis or machine.

You are more likely to trigger these fresh drifts, but you may find isolated, older wind slabs that are still sensitive—especially where they've formed atop weak faceted snow or slick, icy crusts. Skiers in Pole Creek yesterday (in the Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns zone) triggered two very small wind slabs (photo)—nothing that would bury you but large enough to knock you off your feet. On Wednesday, a small skier-triggered slide occurred near Galena Summit (photo). It's very difficult to evaluate which older slabs are still sensitive, and which are not. If you choose to travel in wind-exposed and alpine terrain, to some extent you need to accept the possibility of popping out a small wind slab—which makes paying attention to the consequences of getting surprised all the more important.

LOOSE SNOW (SLUFFS):Observers have also been reporting "sluffy" conditions on very steep, shady slopes. These loose snow slides could knock you off your feet or sled, especially in confined chutes or couloirs. Be prepared to practice "sluff management": utilize either the "rock star" method where you ski or ride fast enough to stay ahead of your sluff until you're clear of the runout; or the more recommended "mere mortal" approach of riding more slowly and letting your sluff run below you.

Yesterday's sunshine and warm temperatures produced a number of loose snow avalanches on very steep slopes facing the sun (photo). With increased cloud cover today, wet sluffs will be less likely—but keep them in mind if the sun comes out for any length of time.

Catch up on the past week in Ben's latest Weekend Update!