Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 9, 2020
Submitted:
February 9, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Martin Stefan
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Big Guy - Goat ridgeline

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
No cracking or collapsing when stomping loaded ridgelines and cornices

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

Mid to high elevation wind slabs seem to have bonded well. Weak persistent layers near the ground remain a concern, even if they have not made any noises in a while.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Wind:
Calm

Clear and cold morning with lots of solar heating, but snow on solars remained dry above 9000'

Snowpack Observations

Dry snow on higher elevations, lower down a mixed bag of supportive and breakable crust, rotten (faceted) snow and a thin band of elusive, sun baked windboard that carved like a dream around 8500ft. On low elevation solars there was a 15cm K hard MFcr in the morning, with dry facets below. Shadies had a thinner (ambient temp) MFcr that teetered on the edge between being supportive and not.

No wet/loose activity noted, cool air temps probably helped balance out the sun.

8600' NNE HS 105cm
5cm blown in dry snow on zipper crust - 5cm DF - windbuff combo on top, otherwise mostly 1F FCxr with usual DH at ground. Most of the DH is 1F hard and seem to be gaining strength, but 15cm from gnd there is a 4F layer of SH that gave propagating results with ECTPs in the mid 20s. This is very similar to the structure in the bottom of the snowpack I have seen on both solars and shadies in the Boulders the last 10 days.

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
Layer Depth/Date: 20-50cm
Comments: Obvious loading observed, but could not get anything to move
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: 15-20cm from gnd, SH in basal FC
Comments: It is as omnipresent as ever, but has not made any noises in a while now.

Terrain Use

Solo travel in unfamiliar surroundings kept me on mostly low angle terrain, and above all out of terrain traps and away from overhead hazard.