Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You may be able to trigger small slides where the wind drifted yesterday's snowfall. These small wind slab avalanches are most likely in the western portion of this zone (Dollarhide to the Soldier Mtns) where more snow fell yesterday. Small wet loose avalanches are possible on very steep, rocky slopes sheltered from the wind. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Watch for soft and hard wind slabs in exposed terrain, especially in the western half of this zone (Dollarhide Summit area and Soldier Mtns). The gusty, erratic winds may have formed slabs near ridgelines, on the sides of cross-loaded gullies and chutes, near prominent terrain features, and lower on slopes in unusual locations. These will be most common at upper elevations but may extend down into middle elevations as well.

    The relatively thin (less than a foot thick) slabs formed on slick crusts and small facets on some slopes; this could make them easier to trigger than you'd expect, and they could break both above you or wider than anticipated. The wind slabs probably won't be large enough to bury you, but they could knock you off your feet or your sled and carry you downslope.

    Hard slabs are notoriously unpredictable. I'd steer clear of very steep slopes where the wind-blown snow surface is supportable or sounds like a drum, especially in areas with trees, rocks, cliffs, or creeks below. Think about where a small avalanche would carry you before committing to riding or skiing any recently wind-loaded slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. 

    See the Forecast Discussion below for some information on wet loose avalanches.  

    (3/8/2022) New snow drifting along the Salt Bowns Rd in the Soldier Mtns. 

Avalanche Discussion

 Wet snow: Today's direct and muted sunshine will melt snow on some slopes on the southern 2/3 of the compass. In rocky areas where the snowpack is less than about 2 feet deep, it would not surprise me to see a couple of rogue wet loose avalanches. They should not be big enough to bury people, but they are more powerful than you'd expect (see videos here and here) and can easily carry you where you don't want to be. If you're sinking into a mushy snowpack, pay attention to slope angles where you're traveling as well as what's above you; wet avalanches release naturally far more frequently than dry avalanches. 

Dry snow: The multiple weak layers that exist in the upper snowpack in our other forecast zones are generally absent here. Why is that? Unfortunately, it has barely snowed since early January. You will find faceted snow and crusts below yesterday's snowfall and wind drifts, but those potential weak layers don't pose much of a hazard without a meatier slab above them.   

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