Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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 southern 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
    2–2.5

    Slabs that formed in early February rest above a variety of ugly, widespread, weak layers (facets, surface hoar, crusts, and combinations). Before triggering an avalanche, you're unlikely to experience obvious signs of instability like snowpack cracking and collapsing or whumpfing. 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—relatively shallower spots may exist where the wind frequently blows, and the slab is not uniformly thick.
    • 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 southern portion of this zone, where the snowpack 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...". 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.

Further north in this zone, where the snowpack is uniformly deeper, your odds of triggering a large avalanche are lower, but not zero—don’t assume all slopes have a uniformly deep snowpack. You can hedge your bets by avoiding steep slopes where the wind frequently blows and the snowpack depth is variable, harboring potential shallow spots. Remember that tracks on a slope do not mean it's safe. Avalanches could be triggered after multiple people have skied the slope. 

You may find lingering small wind slabs or dry surface snow capable of producing sluffs in isolated, very steep terrain approaching 40 degrees in steepness. While they shouldn't be large enough to bury a person, they could knock you off your feet and take you for a ride. 

Regions covered