Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Generally stable avalanche conditions exist. Use caution around wind slabs and drifts at upper elevations. There's a lingering chance of triggering a large slide in very steep, rocky, wind-affected terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The weak snow near the ground has shown little sign of improvement in many parts of this zone. But with very little loading from snow or wind over the past 3 weeks, triggering a large persistent slab avalanche is unlikely. If the persistent slab problem is unlikely, why are we still listing it? The short answer is that many local professionals and savvy recreational sliders/riders are still making terrain choices with this problem in mind. They're minimizing their exposure to terrain with the following characteristics: 

    • Steep: "prime-time" slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.
    • Rocky: slopes with variable snow cover due to the roughness of the terrain.
    • Wind-affected: slopes where strong winds produced variable snow cover.

Avalanche Discussion

In addition to the lingering persistent slab problem described above, several bouts of wind over the past week have created wind slabs in exposed terrain. At upper elevations and in the alpine, you'll likely find a fun mixture of sastrugi, icy polished surfaces, crusts, and hard wind slabs. Watch for areas that are relatively smooth, chalky-looking, or drifted in appearance—these are likely to be wind slabs. They are generally small and not likely to be triggered by your weight, but there could be an isolated sensitive slab that's sitting atop weak snow. Use caution around these old wind slabs, especially in consequential terrain where getting knocked off your feet or sled would be a dangerous proposition.

Catch up on what happened this week in Ben's latest Weekend Update.

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