Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired last year.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

Highlights

Triggering a large, destructive avalanche is unlikely, and generally stable conditions exist. You can reduce your chances of finding trouble by avoiding lingering under large, steep slopes and seeking cooler, more supportable slopes if you find a mushy, wet snowpack. Cornices are large and may be unstable—give them a wide berth. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–2.5

    Large wet slab avalanches are most likely at middle and upper elevations where meltwater reaches buried weak layers. Weak layers of facets and crust + facet combinations are most prominent above 8000' on slopes facing E-NE-N-NW. Very warm temperatures and warm sunshine pushed meltwater deep into the snowpack. The potential for large wet slab avalanches will remain until the snowpack fully drains or refreezes.

    This problem is hard to predict and not easily managed. Your best bet is to avoid traveling through and under avalanche paths with cliffs or rock outcroppings near the start zones.  

    Additional Discussion: Cornices are large and may be unstable. Some may release naturally. They can break further back than expected—give them a wide berth when traveling along ridgelines.

    (3/26/2025) Wet Slab on McGowan Pk in the Sawtooths. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

If you are skiing or riding in steep terrain, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

  • Wet Slabs: Cooler temperatures have likely slowed water movement and formed stiff crusts near the surface of most slopes. Without free-moving water, we are trending away from a wet slab problem. However, this problem remains on the list due to the uncertainty associated with the timing of wet slabs. Yesterday, observers reported a large wet slab avalanche that crossed HWY 21 near Banner Summit. While this is outside the forecast area, it is enough to give us pause about removing this problem entirely. Natural and human-triggered avalanches are unlikely, but you can still hedge your bets by limiting time spent under or on large, steep slopes where you find wet snow below any surficial crusts.
  • Wet Loose: Natural wet loose slides are unlikely, and many slopes released naturally during our recent warm-up. However, if or when the sun comes out today, be wary of skiing or riding on very steep slopes where you find a wet, mushy snow surface or are sinking to your boot tops when stepping out of your skis or off your sled. You will most likely find slopes matching this description on very steep, sun-drenched slopes.

Regions covered