Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Triggering an avalanche on weak layers buried 2-4 feet deep remains a possibility on very steep, rocky, wind-affected slopes at upper elevations. This problem will be most prevalent in the alpine terrain of the Boulder, White Cloud, and Pioneer Mountains. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Early-season persistent weak layers are widespread throughout the Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns zone. In the deeper portions of this zone near Galena Summit south to Baker Creek, these layers are typically found in the bottom half of the snowpack and have been showing better stability. In the White Clouds, the weak snow near the ground is especially pronounced and produced a very large avalanche earlier in the month (see photo). In the windswept, alpine terrain of the Boulders and Pioneers, the pattern of weak snow is especially variable. You're likely to find weak layers near the ground as well as sandwiched between old wind slabs. 

    While triggering a persistent slab avalanche is generally unlikely, it remains possible in terrain with the following characteristics:

    • Steep: slopes in prime-time avalanche terrain around 35-45 degrees.
    • Wind-affected: heavily wind-loaded by past or recent wind events.
    • Alpine flavor: complex, windswept terrain with rock ribs, cliff bands, or convexities.

    ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONWith several wind events over the past week, most of the transportable snow has already been moved. Where wind slabs aren't sitting on faceted snow layers, they've likely bonded to the old underlying snow surfaces. While we've removed the wind slab problem, you should continue to use extra caution on recently or previously wind drifted slopes due to the persistent slab problem described above.

Avalanche Discussion

It's been a week since the end of the last storm—in our southern mountains, it's been even longer. During this mid-winter dry spell, we've experienced the full gamut of weather: wind, cold temps, warm temps, sun, clouds, more wind—you name it. This has left us with a snow surface that's equally variable. In wind-sheltered terrain, you're likely to find that the snow surface has turned to "recycled powder", also known as near-surface facets. On sunny slopes, a crust exists that may have facets above and/or below it. On Wednesday, Ethan found an ugly and relatively widespread crust and facet combination at middle elevations in the Soldiers (video). Once you get into wind-exposed terrain, all bets are off and you're likely to find anything and everything—wind-hardened surfaces, stiff drifts, sun crusts, and near-surface facets. A good rule of thumb is this: the slopes where you've been finding the best riding conditions are usually the weakest snow surfaces.

While the storm arriving this afternoon is looking less impressive than it once was, we still stand to bury these surfaces throughout much of the forecast area. In our northern and western mountains, we may see enough snowfall—combined with wind—to create a slab atop these new weak layers. Tomorrow, our job will be to see how the old snow surface responds to the new load. As Scotty said on Wednesday, "Today's canvas is tomorrow's problem". But for the canvas to become a problem, we need a painter—snow and wind. Will this painter be a Michaelangelo or a rank amateur? We'll know more by tomorrow morning, but I say bring it on! 

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