Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Pay attention to the upper 8-12" of snow in the Cabinets on Friday as it may be poorly bonded to the older snow at upper elevations. Assess each slope and approach steep terrain with caution. On Friday night more snow and strong winds will enter the area. This will create sensitive storm slabs on all aspects and wind slabs on north-easterly aspects at upper elevations. Saturday and Sunday will be a time to dial back your risk by staying off of steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    New snow has fallen this week throughout the area and in some locations will have a poor bond to the older snowpack. In the Cabinet Mountains new storm slabs may be up to 12" thick and may be resting on a slick crust layer. In the Purcells the new snow totals were much less, 4-6". As we progress into the weekend more snow is predicted Friday night, this new snow will likely be dense, slabby and likely to slide out from underneath you. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    With fresh snow and strong winds out of the southwest we can anticipate that we will have significant wind-loading below leeward ridgelines. We observed some mild wind loading on Thursday, the real story looks to roll in on Friday night. Southwest winds are predicted at 23 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. These winds will come in with significant amounts of new snow and cause avalanche danger to rise on Saturday.

Avalanche Discussion

So, heres what I am seeing out there.

Back up to earlier in the week, I made a couple of trips into the East Cabinets in my spare time. Avalanche conditions were pretty stable, I felt very comfortable boot-packing and skiing some pretty steep terrain. Conditions were widely consistent with 4-6" of light fluffy snow on a very firm base above 5,000' in elevation. Below that mark the snowpack is mostly non-existent (and held together well by brush!). Starting Tuesday we began to pick up some steady snowfall, this new snow may be touchy in some locations and will get worse going into the weekend. In the Cabinets we have the recipe for a slab avalanche coming together; firm crust layer+light weak snow+ fresh layer of dense snow predicted to fall on top of that. Like I mentioned in the Bottom Line-Saturday and Sunday will be a good time to think about dialing back and choosing low angle terrain! Other notable observations in the Cabinets is that there is a facet layer about 30" below the surface resting on a crust. This layer wasn't reactive or sensitive; but, worth keeping an eye on to see how it reacts as the temps and rain line climbs on Sunday.

Thursday I ventured up to  Flatiron Mountain in the Purcells. It was a typical scenario up there, half the snowpack and lots of weak sugary snow forming the base. The upper snowpack wasn't really slabby enough to cause a problem yet; but, it's starting off with some pretty weak structure and won't hold up well with a significant new load.

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