banner

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

General Avalanche Information

Author: Scott Savage

Issued: Monday, May 4, 2026 at 11:59 AM MDT

Expires: Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM MST

The Bottom Line

We are closed for the season. We would like to thank the many, many people who make the avalanche center what it is: the Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, local businesses and sponsors, the guides and ski patrol workers, and the backcountry skiers and riders. It's a remarkable effort. Thank you all for your help, your donations, your observations, and your enthusiasm. 

We will publish our 2026 Annual Report in late May or early June. During the summer months, we do monitor info@sawtoothavalanche.com.

Forecast Discussion

SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE GENERAL INFORMATION

Some basic points to remember until you put the sleds and boards away for the summer:

  • Spring weather can rapidly alter snow conditions and snow stability. Think minutes and hours rather than days and weeks.
  • Storm slab and wind slab avalanches are most likely during and immediately following a storm. 
  • Short periods of sunshine after a snowstorm can quickly create wet loose avalanche instabilities.
  • Keep wet slab avalanches in mind, especially during rain events and when we go days without the temperature dropping below freezing. Many shady, upper elevation slopes have not yet gone through a "spring transition". Travel cautiously in this terrain when rain or hot, sunny spells push meltwater deeper into the snowpack. 
  • Give cornices a wide berth and don’t linger beneath them. 
  • Complicated, consequential terrain doesn’t get less complex or serious in the spring and summer. Respect the mountains, maintain safe travel procedures, and keep your guard up.

OBSERVATIONS

Even though we’re done issuing forecasts, we’ll continue posting observations when we get out in the mountains. We encourage you to do the same. Please let everyone know what you’re seeing out there, especially if you see or trigger any avalanches. We’re always trying to collect as much information as possible about large wet slab avalanches (where, when, etc); let us know if you come across any of these beasts in your travels. There are several ways to stay connected and to share what you see:

Submit an Observation:

 

View Observations:

Mountain Weather

Author: Scott Savage

Issued: Monday, May 4, 2026 at 11:59 AM MDT

Check our Weather Stations page to view remote weather station data year-round. 

Our Weather Tools page provides links to help you dial in your mountain weather forecast, winter and summer. 

This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions. It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.