Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

You're most likely to trigger an avalanche in areas with stiff drifts or slabs at the snow surface. These slabs could break down to buried weak layers, causing a large, destructive avalanche. Avalanches could be triggered from low-angle terrain, far from where the slide releases. Wet loose slides are possible on lower and middle elevation slopes that directly face the sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Triggering a large, destructive avalanche is possible. These slides would fail on persistent weak layers (crusts, crusts and facets, or facets) in the middle or bottom of the snowpack. You're most likely to trigger one of these avalanches in areas with shallower snowpacks that are commonly exposed to the wind.

    Several natural and human-triggered avalanches have been observed in this zone over the past week (Observations and Avalanches). Avalanches have occurred on many aspects in wind-loaded terrain.

    Persistent Slab avalanches can 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. They can break hundreds or thousands of feet wide and after several riders or skiers have safely crossed the slope. Before triggering an avalanche, you may not experience snowpack collapsing or other obvious signs of instability.

    Avoid obviously wind-loaded slopes to reduce the chance of triggering these avalanches.

    (3/7/2024) This large avalanche was triggered remotely from the ridge. It released in a heavily wind-loaded gully on a weak layer of snow buried at the end of February. Croy Creek, NW @ 6,000'.

     

  • Wind Slabs

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

    In the Soldier Mtns and near Dollarhide Summit, the past 2 days have seen enough "snowin and blowin" to form soft and hard wind slabs up to 2 feet thick in exposed upper and middle elevation terrain. Natural avalanches are possible. The slabs will be larger, more widespread, and probably easier to trigger both as you climb in elevation and as this afternoon's strong wind builds new and existing slabs.  

    Some of the wind slabs overlie crusts and crust + facet combinations; in these areas, avalanches could be easier to trigger, could release naturally, and could break wider than expected. Small chunks of cornice that you break off or that fall naturally could trigger wind slabs on the slopes beneath them. 

    Fortunately, managing this problem is straightforward; avoiding wind-loaded slopes will significantly reduce the chances you find trouble. Watch for fresh cornices, dunes, rippled snow surfaces, and areas with stiffer snow surfaces. These are clues that the wind has been at work. Cracks shooting out in front of your skis or boards mean you've probably found a wind slab.

    Wind slab avalanches are less likely in the eastern half of this zone.   

    Additional Discussion: Relatively small, wet loose avalanches are possible on wind-sheltered slopes facing the southern half of the compass below about 7500' in elevation. These slides could release naturally and will be most likely this afternoon as surface crusts melt and turn to mush. 

    (3/12/2024) This 18" thick wind slab broke near a ridge line in an area loaded by recent SW and W wind. Stanley Lake Ck, NE @ 8,500'. Although this zone has received far less recent snowfall, recent and ongoing strong wind could create similar issues here. 

     

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