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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 25, 2020
Submitted:
February 25, 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
No wind drifts to speak of here, some soft cornices but no cracking and unconsolidated snow below ridgelines.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Good
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

Less snow here than further north means fewer wind slabs and lower avalanche danger.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Temperature:
cool
Wind:
Calm

Cool, sunny and calm, with a few high clouds drifting in from W around 3pm. Solars still cold despite sun. Hst about 3".

Snowpack Observations

Hst around 7cm, on lee (solar) slopes unconsolidated dust on crust. Windward slopes everything from scoured, hammered or daffle.

On sheltered shady slopes there is a crop of small SH on the surface, and new snow is faceting already.

8500' E HS 130cm
top 15cm faceting PP and FCsf
115-40cm 4F-1F slab in various stages of faceting and rounding
40-gnd DH, in places chained, with a few thin crusts. Moist for the most part.
ECTX, DT21 q1 15cm from gnd on large, dry crystals on top of a thin MFcr. Could be 12/7, could also be something else. PST40/120 on the same layer.

So weaknesses are still there, but buried deep and seem dormant and not very reactive.

Avalanche Problems

Wind slabs are so few and far between in this area I don't even think they qualify as a problem.

Terrain Use

Skied mid-30s not wind loaded slopes

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