Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 8, 2020
Submitted:
February 8, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Martin Stefan
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Location:
Abes Armchair

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

In spide of obvious signs of wind effect the wind slabs in this area were not reactive to my provocations. Weak snow close to the ground continues to be an issue, but is deeply buried now, at least on sheltered mid to high elevation terrain.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Wind:
Light

Light wind that seemed to shift around a bit, mostly NW but for a while on the summit it blew from SE. I was just on the edge of a heavy snow cover that socked in the more northern Sawtooths, and had both sun and S1 showers from time to time.

Snowpack Observations

Around 20cm of fresh snow on a subtle crust at lower elevations.

7900' E sheltered below ridge HS 100cm
generally right side up with 1F mid pack and a 4F interface at 40cm from gnd and one at 30cm with shards of SH on old pourous MFcr in basal FC. ECTN, PST32/100end at 30cm from gnd.

9300' NE HS 170cm in sheltered meadow.
10-20cm of PP on various generations of windslabs, not reactive on my tests.
Still clear layering in the DH, FWIW I got a very snappy DT18 20cm from gnd on a 2 cm layer of >3mm bone dry, striated FC on a P hard MFcr.

Wind slabs at higher elevations were stubborn. Having good vis I could make sure I had no one below and stomped a few cornices, the biggest probably around 200lbs, got nothing to move.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wind Slab
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
Unreactive
Stubborn
Reactive
Touchy
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
Comments: Potentially isolated pockets where the loading recipe and bed surface are just right could be more reactive, but where I was it was hard to get anything to move even in obviously wind loaded areas.
Persistent Slab
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
Unreactive
Stubborn
Reactive
Touchy
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
Layer Depth/Date: 80-160cm
Comments: Weak snow near the ground of some variation of facet-crust combination seems widespread, but is deeply buried and not likely to tigger except for maybe obvious thin spots

Terrain Use

Solo travel and unfamiliar terrain limited my travel to low 30s sheltered or treed terrain mid 30s.