Professional Observation
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
February 9, 2020Submitted:
February 9, 2020Observer:
SAC - Martin StefanZone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern MtnsLocation:
Big Guy - Goat ridgelineSigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
GoodConfidence in Rating:
HighStability Trend:
ImprovingBottom 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:
ClearWind:
CalmClear 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
|
|
Layer Depth/Date: 20-50cm Obvious loading observed, but could not get anything to move |
|||
Persistent Slab
|
|
Layer Depth/Date: 15-20cm from gnd, SH in basal FC 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.
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