Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Sunday night rolled in with a fresh shot of modest snowfall and strong southwest winds. This new snow is resting on a variety of weak surfaces across the area. Our previously stable snowpack has become more complicated and staying safe will require that you dial back your terrain selection. Stay safe by avoiding steep slopes over 30 degrees and utilize low angle terrain or scoured ridgelines for travel routes in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Strong winds out of the west and southwest have loaded and packed the new snow into cohesive slabs at treeline and above. These slabs may be easily triggered today in steep and open terrain below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Avoid those terrain features and watch for changes in the surface snow such as an increase in density or cracking. Below treeline you will want to be alert in open areas that are exposed to the wind, such locations may be more prone to small avalanches as the wind packs the new snow into a more cohesive layer. Check out the video below to see the process in action.

     

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Snowfall totals ranged widely across the area from our recent storm with the Purcells receiving 2-4" and the Cabinets picking up 6-8". This new snow is resting on a wide variety of weak surfaces that may cause instability in our snowpack for a while. The new snow may be easily triggered in steep terrain and will be most problematic in areas where some wind affect has helped it has gain cohesion. At elevations below treeline the new snow is not as deep and protected from the wind. The danger will be lower below treeline; however, we have a lot of buried surface hoar in timbered openings out there. Avoid steep openings in the timber for the near future. Triggering a thin slab in these areas will be possible in areas where the storm snow has gained cohesion.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday my partner Nate pointed out that "these are the kind of snow conditions where it seems like you could get away with having a lot of fun out in the mountains, until you don't." I thought that summed things up pretty well.

We have had very stable snowpack conditions the past two weeks and during that time we developed numerous weak layers near the surface of the snowpack. These weak layers consist of wind and sun crusts at upper elevations, facets near crust layers, and surface hoar that is highly variable across the area. Now that we have buried these weak layers the conditions become tricky and require you to pull back the reins. It is very easy to get pulled into pushing your luck right now because there are places where you might ride all day without incident. Then you cross a slope with a slab resting on surface hoar. It will be just like the classic sucker punch that you didn't see coming. Keep an eye out for all the classic signs of avalanche danger such as cracking and settling and avoid steep terrain for the near future. Play the long game, those steeper slopes and challenging terrain will still be there when conditions stabilize.

Regions covered