Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 15, 2020
Submitted:
January 15, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Martin Stefan
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Hwy glassing Ketchum - S Sawtooth overlook

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
See avalanche activity below

Bottom Line

Natural activity in the Boulders and S Sawtooths, in addition to the activity previously reported from N Sawtooths and Banner

Media/Attachments

Natural activity on Mushroom ridge and Gladiator

Advanced Information

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
4 pt 9885 Prairie Creek E/W fork divide
E 9500
D1.5 U N-Natural
Several D1-D1.5 avalanches in the bowl on the divide between W and E fork of Prairie creek
1 Mushroom Ridge SE face, 9500' to 9000'
9500
D2 N-Natural Looks like a cornice drop into a gut on Mushroom, and two (or potentially one that spans around the trees between the higher crowns) further in along the summit ridge of Mushroom. See additional picture in media above.
Natural activity on Mushroom Ridge
1 Cabin Peak, Sawtooths
E 9500
D3 N-Natural One very large avalanche and a few smaller but still significant pockets that also released. Looks like it has stepped down deeper in places, 12/7?
Very large avalanche on Cabin Peak in the Sawtooths

Very hard to say from pictures, but it looks like the avalanches in the Boulders and Smokies have not stepped down deeper and might just be the snow since 1/10 or potentially 12/31.
The one on Cabin Peak looks to have ripped deeper into the snowpack, maybe down to 12/7?