General Avalanche Information Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns
Sawtooth Avalanche Center
www.sawtoothavalanche.com
- Issued
- Friday, October 23, 2026 - 12:00PM
- Expires
- Monday, October 26, 2026 - 12:00PM
- Author
- Gabrielle Antonioli
The Bottom Line
A passing storm will deposit 6-10" of snow in favored upper-elevation terrain by Saturday morning. Currently, what little snow cover exists is confined to alpine terrain and shady slopes above about 9,000' in elevation. As snow accumulates, these same slopes are most likely to produce the season's first avalanches.
We will update this General Avalanche Information product as more snow accumulates.
Forecast Discussion
We will update this General Avalanche Information post throughout the fall. Our daily Backcountry Avalanche Forecasts will begin when there's adequate snow to ride and slide.
Fall Gear Check
Use this dry week to go through your kit at home:
- Beacon: Put in fresh batteries of the type your manufacturer recommends, check for corrosion and cracks, update the firmware, and do a practice search with your partners!
- Airbag: Practice-deploy it if your manufacturer recommends it, then refill or weigh the canister (or charge the battery and update firmware on electric packs) and repack it carefully.
- Probe and shovel: Assemble and lock them several times, and check for bent, cracked, or sticky parts.
- And all the rest: Restock first-aid and repair kits, charge radios, and check skins, bindings, and crampons.
Learn Before the Season
- MSU Snow and Avalanche Workshop: November 4, 2026, Bozeman, MT. Registration details are here.
- Wyoming Snow and Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW): November 13–14, 2026, Center for the Arts, Jackson, WY. Registration details are here.
- Not a workshop person? Check out The Avalanche Hour podcast for tips, stories, and early-season wisdom here.
Media
Mountain Weather
- Issued
- Friday, October 23, 2026 - 12:31PM
- Author
- Nick Zelaya
Yesterday, heavy cloud cover rolled in and continued through last night. We saw rain throughout our area, bringing 0.5 to 1" of water in the last 24 hours. A few locations, like the top of Baldy, received a dusting of snow, and Galena Summit received 2". Winds were light and mostly from the south as this low-pressure system continued rolling through the area.
Today, temperatures will continue to drop into the low 30s F, with overnight lows dipping into the 20s F. An additional 0.1 to 0.5" of precipitation will fall, mostly as rain, with possible snow at higher elevations. Galena Summit could receive 2-4" as well as the Sawtooths, while Pioneers could receive 4-8"+ of expected new snow. Winds will shift to north to northwest as this low-pressure system wraps up this evening and takes the precipitation with it.
Tomorrow will bring a change, with Saturday temperatures rising and clear skies returning. By Sunday, temperatures will warm once again, with highs in the 40s to 50s F and partly cloudy skies. Looking ahead to early next week, another round of precipitation is expected Monday evening through Tuesday.
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.