Bollettino valanghe

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sat
Alta quota
1 · Debole
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 5 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Generally stable avalanche conditions exist, and large avalanches are unlikely. Be on the lookout for wind drifts at upper elevations. You may be able to trigger these small slabs where they rest on layers of weak, sugary snow.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Unlikely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Your odds of triggering a wind slab avalanche are low. Despite that fact, they are the most likely avalanche problem you'll encounter. Wind slabs may still be sensitive to your weight where they rest on weak layers of facets, facets + crusts, or surface hoar. 

    Look for this problem in wind affected terrain at upper elevation. Wind slabs often form downwind of ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. These avalanches probably won't bury you but they could easily take you for a ride, pile you into trees, or wash you into a terrain trap. The possibility of slabs breaking above you or wider than expected makes them more difficult to manage.

    Thankfully, this problem is relatively easy to identify and avoid. Look for ripples or dunes on the snow surface. If you feel the snow stiffening, alter your course to somewhere with softer snow at the surface. You'll find better skiing and riding and safer conditions, a real win-win.

    (1/22/2022) This wind slab was intentionally triggered in alpine terrain in the Sawtooths. 

Avalanche Discussion

By looking for and avoiding obvious small wind slabs (Problem 1 above), you can nearly eliminate your chance of triggering an avalanche. There are no other well-defined avalanche problems in this zone. This picture is unlikely to change until snow returns to the forecast. In the meantime, here are a couple of potential hazards to keep in mind:

Deep Persistent Slabs: Weak, sugary faceted snow exists near the base of the snowpack. You'll find it on most upper elevation slopes as well as shadier slopes at middle elevation. Triggering an avalanche on this layer is unlikely, but not impossible. You're most likely to find trouble on slopes with the following characteristics: 

    • Steep: slopes about 35 degrees and steeper
    • Rocky: slopes with variable snow cover due to the roughness of the terrain
    • Wind-affected: slopes where strong winds produced variable snow cover

Cornices:  December's nearly continuous snow and wind built some truly impressive cornices. These beasts are perched along most ridgelines in this area. It can be very difficult to tell where a ridgeline stops and where the cornice starts. Cornices are unpredictable and potentially unstable. Give these huge chunks of snow a wide berth.

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