Snake River Range

Avalanches are unlikely today, as mostly stable conditions exist. Low danger does not mean no danger. Isolated pockets of unstable wind slab may be found in very steep, upper elevation terrain. Cracking in the snow around your skis means that you have found one of these pockets. Evaluate the upper snowpack before entering consequential terrain today.

A prolonged dry period beginning on January 10th has created mostly stable conditions across the region. Several inches of new snow fell early Sunday morning (1/25) as a weak weather system brushed past western Wyoming. This dusting was not enough to significantly increase the avalanche hazard in the majority of terrain. However, very small wind slabs were triggered by skiers on steep, wind loaded slopes within the past 48 hours. These pockets of wind slab are becoming harder to trigger, but may still exist in very steep terrain near rocks or cliff bands in the highest elevations. Keep this in mind as a small slide could be enough to knock you off your feet in consequential terrain.

In general, the upper snowpack has weakened as a result of the prolonged high pressure spell. Facets exist on shaded slopes that are sheltered from the wind. Surface hoar has also been observed on many slopes below 9,000 feet. Crusts of varying thickness exist on most solar aspects. These surfaces were just covered by an inch or so of recent snow and may be buried a few inches deeper by light snowfall this Wednesday and Thursday. A lot can happen in the days before significant snow returns, but tracking changes in the upper snowpack is important as it will create the primary avalanche concern if the faucet ever turns on again.