Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Stay off and out from below steep slopes—slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. Natural and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury people or destroy houses are nearly certain to occur. Slides can be triggered from flat terrain a long distance from where they release. Avalanches may impact roads, trails, and structures in the valley bottom. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Large human-triggered avalanches are very likely to occur. These massive 2-4 foot thick slides will fail on faceted snow on shadier slopes and crust + facet combinations on sunnier slopes. 

    Expect avalanches to release in surprising ways. You can trigger them from flat or low-angle terrain long distances away from steep slopes, and they can break far above you. Before triggering an avalanche, you may or may not experience snowpack collapsing or other obvious signs of instability. 

    (2/6/2024) The Sun Valley Ski Patrol ski-triggered this large avalanche Tuesday morning in the Cold Springs Chutes in the Sunrise Expansion Area. This area has not yet been opened to the public. It failed on a NE aspect near 8000'. The slide was 2-4 ft tall, 100 ft wide, and broke branches during its 900 ft vertical run. The debris piled up 4-7 feet deep against trees. Photo: Sun Valley Ski Patrol

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Natural and human-triggered avalanches will occur on many slopes exposed to the wind. Expect 1-2 foot thick wind slabs at upper elevations. These slides will be large enough to bury people, and they can also trigger much larger Persistent Slab avalanches as they run downslope. The wind slabs overlie very weak snow on many slopes, making them especially easy to trigger. With natural avalanches being likely, pay attention to the terrain above you.

    Due to the weak snow beneath the current snowfall storm slabs and loose snow avalanches are possible in terrain sheltered from the wind. This afternoon, any prolonged period of sun will likely produce natural, loose snow avalanches on very steep slopes. These will not be as large as the wind slab avalanches, but they are not insignificant.

Avalanche Discussion

An AVALANCHE WARNING is in effect, and the danger is HIGH. In windy, alpine terrain, large natural Wind Slab avalanches are almost certain. The very weak snow surface will not bond well to last night's snowfall. Naturally releasing wind slabs, cornice breaks, and loose snow avalanches all have the potential to trigger much larger Persistent Slab avalanches as they cascade downhill.

Dozens of very large natural avalanches occurred during and shortly following our last big storm. The weak layers we're dealing with are both widespread and uniquely weak and many slopes were left teetering on the edge. Last night's burst of intense snowfall has just made things worse. 

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Don't let the windows of sunny weather lead you astray. Make no mistake, it's very dangerous today. If you do head out, expect to trigger a large and destructive avalanche. Avoid avalanche terrain, including the base of slopes threatened from above.

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