Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches are unlikely, and most slopes are safe. Watch for small, isolated wind drifts in upper elevation and alpine terrain

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Gusty winds yesterday afternoon may have formed a fresh round of isolated, small drifts at upper elevations. Observers in the neighboring Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns zone reported small, fresh drifts up to 6 inches thick over the weekend. A skier in the alpine reaches of the Smoky Mtns was able to release one of these small slabs with a ski cut.

    In addition to these more recent wind drifts, keep an eye out for older wind slabs in alpine terrain. Last week, a skier triggered a small slab avalanche just below a corniced ridgeline in the Beaver Creek drainage (see photo). The slab failed on a subtle sun crust on an E-facing slope at about 10,000 feet. Although these wind drifts and slabs have had time to heal, it may remain possible to trigger one where they overlie a weak layer such as facets and/or crust. Watch for pillows of stiff or hard snow on shadier slopes that weren't baked by recent sunshine and warm temps.

    None of these slabs were large enough to bury a person, but they could knock you off your feet and send you tumbling down the slope. Since you are most likely to find wind slabs in steep, rocky, upper elevation terrain, recognize that getting knocked over could have serious consequences.

Avalanche Discussion

The snowpack in this zone is generally stable, and people are exploring steep, alpine terrain. The warm weather may make cornices more susceptible to breaking far from the edge—be sure to give these a wide berth. As always, consider the consequences of even a small slide before jumping into gnarly or extreme terrain. 

CONTINUE TO USE NORMAL CAUTIONAs the saying goes, Low danger does not mean no danger. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry. What does normal caution mean?

  • Make a solid plan before a day in the backcountry. A plan helps you anticipate hazards (of which avalanches are only one), identify options for the day, and ensure everyone is prepared for an emergency.
  • Perform a trailhead gear check. A proper beacon check ensures everyone's transceiver can send and receive a signal. Maybe you could use a brush-up on your beacon skills? Don't forget about the Baker Creek beacon park. Is everyone's radio working and on the right channel? Airbags armed and in working order?
  • Maintain situational awareness. Don't let your guard down even when the snowpack is generally stable. If you see a wind-loaded slope or another indicator of potential instability, don't assume it's safe just because the danger is Low. Identify and avoid other hazards such as large cornices. 
  • Communicate with your partners. As you travel through the mountains talk with your partners. Are you seeing what you were expecting to see when you made your plan in the morning or are conditions different than you thought that they would be? Do you need to adjust your plan accordingly?
  • Continue to use safe travel practices. It's easy to get sloppy with your travel practices during periods of stability. Continue to minimize your group's exposure to potential avalanche hazards, ideally traveling one at a time through steep terrain.
  • Minimize your exposure to hazards. The likelihood of encountering any sort of problem in life increases when you spend more time exposed to that hazard. You are more likely to be involved in a car accident if you drive every day of the year than you are if you only drive once a week. The same is true in the backcountry. 

Regions covered