Professional Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 5, 2020 - March 6, 2020
Submitted:
March 7, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Savage
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Croy Canyon to 6800', driving observations north to Ketchum on Friday 3/6/20

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Wet loose on specific aspects at specific times of the day

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

There was some wet loose avalanche hazard on steep, rocky slopes that directly faced the sun + were sheltered from breezes + had more than a foot (30cm) of snow, especially where there was no or little sage. Many SE-S-SW-W slopes are mostly dirt or very thin snow cover from Hailey to Ketchum. There was a short time window when the SE aspects with snow were supportable on Friday. E aspects were mostly supportable Thursday but produced several small, natural wet loose slides Friday in sheltered, rocky areas below about 7000'. NW slopes got "soggy" Friday afternoon, and N+NE were moist to the ground where the snowpack was less than 18" (45cm) deep.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
30s and 40s F
Wind:
Light , SW

Clear and warm Thursday, warmer with increasing high clouds Friday. Decent freeze both nights. Friday night at 11 PM: 36-38F at valley floor Ketchum-Hailey with very thin high clouds - not sure if the snowpack will freeze tonight, and it will probably be a light freeze if it does.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
several Hailey - Ketchum, along HWY 75 (Carbonate, KOA Chutes, Grumpy Chutes on Baldy)
E 5600-7000' 		D1.5 WL O-Old Snow 6-10" (15-25cm) N-Natural I saw 6-10 D1-1.5 wet loose slides. All were in rocky areas, E aspects, little substantial vegetation, likely sheltered from the wind. They left a little snow in the tracks, probably a weak crust that hasn't melted/eroded yet. None

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wet Loose
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
Unreactive
Stubborn
Reactive
Touchy
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
 Layer Depth/Date: Just above ground
Comments: Sensitivity would have ranged from unreactive when frozen to touchy when naturals were occurring sometime on Friday.

Terrain Use

I skied in some avalanche terrain when it was supportable/corn but not when it was unsupportable/like oatmeal. I avoided steep, rocky terrain for both avalanche and ski base preservation reasons.