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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 30, 2019
Submitted:
December 1, 2019
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos (off duty), Hanks
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
4th of July Creek

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Stability Trend: 

Bottom Line

Very weak, but currently stable snowpack. This snowpack will not behave well when loaded. Faceting near the surface and weak snow near the ground will both be on the problem list.

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Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
Single digits to low teens F
Wind:
Moderate , N

Winds picking up in afternoon, blowing light gusting moderate on ridgelines, not affecting terrain aside from exposed ridges, transporting snow, building very thin but sensitive slabs. Beautiful day outside.

Snowpack Observations

Thin and weak snowpack, as anticipated based on HS and recent weather conditions. 15cm HST from previous several days of snow. Appreciably more old snow in the White Clouds than I observed on Thanksgiving in the Sawtooths (and what could be seen from the road in the Boulders), enough to allow for good weak layer connectivity on middle elevation shadies and margins. Lower angle, middle elevation solars were holding some snow before Thanksgiving storms, steeper solars appeared to have been largely cooked off. Upper elevation are a typical mixed bag - windward slopes appeared to have been largely scoured before TG storms, leeward slopes holding large areas of drifted snow - where present this snow is behaving more like typical alpine hodgepodge of slick, wind buffed surfaces (icy on solars).

<strong>Snowpack Obs:</strong> Thin and weak snowpack, as anticipated based on HS and recent weather conditions. 15cm HST from previous several days of snow. Appreciably more old snow in the White Clouds than I observed on Thanksgiving in the Sawtooths (and what could be seen from the road in the Boulders), enough to allow for good weak layer connectivity on middle elevation shadies and margins. Lower angle, middle elevation solars were holding some snow before Thanksgiving storms, steeper solars appeared to have been largely cooked off. Upper elevation are a typical mixed bag - windward slopes appeared to have been largely scoured before TG storms, leeward slopes holding large areas of drifted snow - where present this snow is behaving more like typical alpine hodgepodge of slick, wind buffed surfaces (icy on solars).

Terrain Use

Largely dictated by presence/absence of snow. Avoided obvious wind loaded terrain steeper than 35. More concerned about sharks in the water than the water itself, but this will change rapidly with a significant loading event.

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