Pro Field Report
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
January 4, 2020Submitted:
January 4, 2020Observer:
SAC - Martin StefanZone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley MtnsLocation:
Triple PeakSigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
GoodConfidence in Rating:
ModerateStability Trend:
SteadyBottom Line
This particular zone has very little snow on S facing aspects, and N facing seem to lack cohesion in slabs for now. Snowpack structure is as bad as everywhere else, but the recipe still lacks a proper slab. However, this might be a very local situation, and stiffer wind slabs may still be possible in more exposed terrain than what I traveled in.
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
ObscuredTemperature:
35 at parkingWind:
Moderate , SES1 flurries, occasional S2 and some specks of sun, total accumulation around 1 inch. Steady moderate wind moved snow over ridgelines.
Snowpack Observations
Snowpack here is a lot thinner than in Warm Springs area.
S-SE faces still unskiable, tons of sage brush poking through. Some SE cross loaded features hold skiable amounts of snow with potential for weak basal facets.
On N face 7000' HS not wind loaded approx 50cm, HN 20cm. Old slab FCxr F hard with 4f crust 20cm from gnd, on top of a very weak facet/sagebrush combo, quick hand pits broke on isolation. Right now the slab above is probably too soft and thin to be a concern.
On wind loaded (still ongoing loading) N face 7500' HS 60cm, 12/7 SH @ 15cm from gnd with F slab on top. There was also another fairly well developed 1-2cm thick FC layer at 30cm, could be 24/12 FCsf? Snow was definitely loading in here on the 24th. Storm/windslab on top F hard. (See picture)
No results on ECT, slab is to soft I just hammered through the whole snowpack. I did get PST25/100end@45cm down (12/7) and PST 30/100arr@30cm down, so it seems like 12/7 is active and just waiting for a slab to build around here.
Over 8000' on the lee side of the ridge line here is about 20cm of soft wind slab on top of 20cm of very weak factes. This setup is also just waiting for a proper slab to come along.
Avalanche Problems
| Problem | Location | Distribution | Sensitivity | Size | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wind Slab
|
|
Layer Depth/Date: 20-30cm Comments: Fresh wind slab since wind turned to SW. |
There are the usual weak layers deeper in the snowpack, but where I was today there does not seem to be much of a slab on top. However this is very local, and both a bit further east in Warm Springs drainage or south further down in the WRV the slabs are stiffer and/or snowpack is deeper and 12/7 is a player on the usual mid/high elevations all round the compass.
Terrain Use
Except for a few turns in low 30s on planar non-exposed slopes I avoided avalanche terrain.