Bollettino valanghe

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Fri
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
3 · Marcato
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 2 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist.  You could trigger large, 2+ foot thick avalanches on many steep slopes. Slides can be triggered remotely—from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    2–3

    In the past week, the mountains received 3.5-6+ inches of water (3.5-6 feet of snowfall). These hefty slabs rest above very weak snow formed during the month-long drought, including surface hoar, facets, and facet + crust combinations. These layers exist on many slopes, the weakest of which are found at middle and low elevations.

    Yesterday, we observed hundreds of avalanches that released during the storm (database). The vast majority occurred on shadier NW-N-NE-E facing slopes in both wind-loaded and sheltered terrain (plot). Today, these are the slopes where you're most likely to trigger an avalanche. Snowpack cracking and collapsing or whumpfing are clear signs of unstable conditions. However, a lack of these obvious warning signs doesn't mean you're in the clear. Persistent Slabs can release in surprising ways, break wider than expected, and release above or hundreds of feet away from where they are triggered. It's possible to remotely trigger an avalanche from flat terrain near steep slopes. 

    (2/5/2025) Connected crown of a very large avalanche on the Upper Baker Creek Headwall. Smoky Mountains. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

The impressive, multi-day atmospheric river event is in the rearview. You can read some of the highlights here. Strong wind and blowing snow yesterday was the final hurrah (photo). Afternoon clearing near and south of Galena Pass allowed us to observe hundreds of avalanches. The database, which contains ~150 entries so far, highlights avalanche activity on shadier NW-N-NE-E facing slopes that received preferential wind-loading and harbor some of the worst weak layers. 

Snowfall amounts and slab thickness vary across the zone and with elevation. Skiers yesterday at Williams Pk in the Sawtooths reported collapsing in an already heavily used skin track (observation). In other areas, observers reported little to no collapsing but don't let this fool you. Dense and/or thick slabs can mask obvious instability. Yesterday in Baker Ck, we observed no collapsing until venturing onto a thinner (~2' thick) slab which sent a booming collapse across the slope. On the descent, the greater force of skiing opened up cracks on steep rolls near our skin track, and we experienced another booming collapse after stepping out of our skis at the bottom of the slope. 

Peak instability is behind us, but conditions are ripe for being surprised. If you find yourself drawn toward steeper terrain, take a look around at the recent natural avalanche activity and think twice. Avalanches on even short, steep pitches can be dangerous if they push you into terrain traps like trees, or creek bottoms. 

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