Bollettino valanghe

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sat
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1 · Debole
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 4 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Large avalanches are unlikely, but you could trigger small avalanches on steep slopes with fresh wind-drifted snow. Loose snow avalanches may release on very steep slopes receiving prolonged direct sun. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    This zone picked up 1-3" of snow on Wednesday afternoon. Gusty NW, N, and NE wind formed thin wind slabs in exposed terrain. Be on the lookout for thin wind slabs near or just below ridgelines and on the sides of cross-loaded gullies. Many of them will rest on slick crusts. This means they may be easy to trigger, break wider than expected, and will pick up speed quickly as they travel downslope. 

    Pay attention to how the snow feels under your skis or boards. If the snow surface suddenly stiffens or becomes more supportable, you've found a wind slab. Cracks shooting out in front of your skis or boards are a red flag warning you to be cautious. Surface clues like dunes or ripples can tell you the wind has been at work. 

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

Avalanche Discussion

In our northern zones, we've buried a complex mix of weak snow layers including multiple crusts, layers of facets, and occasionally surface hoar. The worst of these layers exist on shadier (NW-N-NE-E) at middle and upper elevations. The composition of these layers is highly variable and depend on aspect, elevation, slope angle, and the amount of recent snowfall. 

As a quick example, you can see the contrast between this S-facing pit and this N-facing pit I dug on Wednesday in the Smokys. These pits were less than a 1/4 mile from each other and at similar elevations. The point here is that it's complex. Not only do the weak layers change, but the thickness and stiffness of the slab vary as well. In some areas, you'll be scratching around in "dust on crust". Around the corner, you could run into a stiffer, sensitive drift.

New snow and continued wind-drifting over the last few days formed a fresh batch of wind slabs in alpine terrain. These slabs may be sensitive on their own, even without a persistent weak layer below them. More sinister, however, is where they rest atop the weak layers described above. The complex distribution and sensitivity of these layers make it hard to know if the slab you encounter will be your average small wind slab that's easy to manage, or one that breaks above you and wider than expected. With increased complexity comes increased uncertainty. The best way to deal with the uncertainty is to dial back your terrain choices. Personally, I'm not willing to trust a steep, shaded slope with an obviously stiffer slab near the surface. 

Regioni coperte