Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Mostly stable avalanche conditions exist, and large avalanches are unlikely. While your odds are low, you can significantly reduce risk by steering clear of recently wind-affected snow. Even small slides can have big consequences on slopes with cliffs, trees, and terrain traps.

LOW DANGER DOESN'T MEAN NO DANGER

While the danger rating has decreased to LOW, you can still find trouble. Most avalanches you can encounter today will be on the smaller side. While triggered slides can be small, they can pack a punch if they carry you through trees, cliffs, gullies, and other terrain traps. 

Recent winds created varying depths of wind-affected snow in exposed middle and upper-elevation terrain. The slabs are less than a foot deep but sit on top of fragile, weak-faceted snow. Staying off recently wind-loaded slopes steeper than about 35 degrees is a good way to not tangle with these small avalanches. Winds are forecasted to increase in the late afternoon hours with 1-2 inches of snowfall and can contribute to forming fresh slabs.

Last week, a party of skiers near Carbonate Mountain triggered a loose avalanche (observation, photo). One of the skiers initiated the weak surface snow that picked up speed, gathered more snow, and knocked her down. Luckily, she regained control, "but if it had dragged the member of our party through the pinch, it would not have been pretty." Loose avalanches can pick up speed quickly and have enough debris to knock you over. Avoiding slopes steeper than about 35 degrees which end in a terrain trap will increase your chances of not being injured by these small avalanches. 

The snowpack is deeper on the western side of this zone (Dollarhide area and west to the Soldiers). Slabs in the snowpack have retained their strength, and you would have to get unlucky to trigger deeper layers in the snowpack. You'll find much safer conditions, and better skiing and riding, in terrain sheltered from the effects of the wind.