Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Large avalanches are unlikely, and generally stable conditions exist. There's an outside chance of triggering hard wind drifts and slabs at upper elevations. Isolated wet loose avalanches are possible if skies remain mostly clear during the heat of the day. Dry, powdery slopes have the lowest chance of producing avalanches. 

We will begin issuing daily Avalanche Forecasts with Danger Ratings when snow cover allows for reasonable backcountry recreational access. 

A snowpack exists on many slopes above about 7500' near the Coyote and Tornak huts; in the Warm Springs Ck drainage, including out of bounds on Bald Mountain; in the mountains north of Ketchum; and in the Soldier Mtns. If you're traveling in these areas, refer to the Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns forecast.

Much of the terrain in this zone was snow-free until the late December and early January storms. Access and travel remain challenging in many standard recreational play areas due to thin or non-existent snow cover. 

You are most likely to find trouble on slopes near or over about 40 degrees in steepness. As always, "extreme" terrain deserves our respect; think about where even a small avalanche could carry you before commiting to consequential, wind-loaded slopes. Here are a few specific things to consider when planning your day in the mountains:

Wind Slabs: Most wind slabs have stabilized and are not sensitive to the weight of a skier or snowmobiler. That said, pay attention in very steep terrain where hard wind slabs overlie weak, sugary faceted snow. These are most widespread in windy upper elevation terrain that faces away from the afternoon sun (NW-N-NE-SE aspects). The "hard slabs over facets" can sound or feel hollow or "drummy". You'll commonly find them in chutes and couloirs. Old, weathered hard slabs are typically triggered near rocks (buried or exposed) or on the edges where the slab thins to less than 2 feet thick.

Cornices: Some cornices are very large, and many are sagging or overhanging. It can be difficult to tell where solid ground stops and the cornice starts. Give them space when traveling on ridgelines, and limit the time you spend beneath them during the heat of the day. Falling cornices can be great triggers for wind slabs below them (as seen in this observation).

Wet Loose: Small, natural and human triggered, wet loose avalanches are possible on very steep slopes if / when 1) they are receiving direct, unobscured sunshine and 2) are protected from the wind. These slides often release near rock bands or trees. If you're sinking more than a few inches into wet, mushy snow or see fresh wet rollerballs, move to cooler, shadier slopes.