Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 21, 2020
Submitted:
January 21, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Savage
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Soldiers-Couch Summit area: Owens and 5 Points Cks, McHan Gulch 5600-7500', several aspects

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
I rode into several wind-drifted road cuts, no cracking to speak of.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 

Bottom Line

At middle elevations: Observations, recent weather (no snow and warm temps), snowpack structure, and snowpack test results show it's getting harder to trigger avalanches, but it's still possible. If you find the wrong place on a slope, you could still trigger a 1.5-3 foot slab avalanche on weak layers in the middle and lower parts of the snowpack. The probability of triggering large avalanches appears to be steadily decreasing, but the consequences remain the same.
At lower elevations: Avalanches are unlikely. The warm temps from the past day or two made the lingering wind-slabs "goey" feeling, and they had a dirty weathered appearance. There is a lot of sage poking through the snowpack below 6000'. Stay off the large wind features to significantly reduce the chances of triggering slides.

Media/Attachments

Pit profile NE aspect at 7200' Soldier Mtns on 1-21-2020.
Unstable ECT test result after severe beating (kicking the shovel on top of the column) on SE aspect 7400' in Soldier Mtns.
CPSTend 32/100 test result on SE aspect 7400' in Soldier Mtns.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
28-35F
Wind:
Light

Overcast skies at 2 PM, then flurries, Obscured and snowing S2-3 by 4:30 PM. Little snow available for transport below 7500'.

Snowpack Observations

Low elevations: Thin snowpack on many aspects for the first 500' vertical off the valley floor. "Pliable", weathered wind drifts.
Middle elevations: 90-140cm 7000-7500'. Snowpit profiles attached for SE and NE aspects.

Photos of snowpack test results are in the media section above.

Pit profile SE aspect at 7400' Soldier Mtns on 1-21-2020.
Pit profile NE aspect at 7200' Soldier Mtns on 1-21-2020.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Persistent Slab
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
Unreactive
Stubborn
Reactive
Touchy
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
 Comments: Variety of persistent weak layers in the middle portion of the snowpack are still misbehaving in snowpack tests.

Terrain Use

I was solo and avoided all starting zones. I comfortably traveled in runout zones and on roads in avalanche tracks (no concerns about natural releases today).