Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 9, 2020
Submitted:
March 9, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Savage
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Boulder Mtns: Spring-Cherry Creek to 10,000'

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
One small natural wind slab observed, see below.

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

Very isolated, small wind slabs in alpine terrain were easy to spot today. Mid-elevation west aspects (snowpack= about 2 ft or 60 cm) were becoming unsupportable late afternoon and will probably have wet avalanche issues in the coming days.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Temperature:
Near 20 F up high, 30s F at road
Wind:
Light , W

Variable clouds from partly to mostly cloudy, some snow flurries. Wind was light to moderate, moving some snow over ridges but not really loading anything.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Cerro Ciento main W/SW ridge
N Alpine, near 9800' 		D1 SS I-New/Old Interface N-Natural Steep, cross-loaded gully. It failed on a N/NW aspect in a NW facing gully.
(3/9/20) This small, natural wind slab avalanche failed on a N/NW facing slope near 9800' in the Boulder Mountains.

Snowpack Observations

Alpine terrain: The 1-3" of new snow from the past couple days was moved around a bit by the wind. It stayed cool today with cloud cover+breeze+temps near 20 F. What you see is what you get.
Middle elevations: The surface on due S, open slopes, was trying to become corn with a good freeze on crusts below the new snow. On W aspects, the shallow snowpack went from supportable with dust on crust to moist throughout and barely supportable during the afternoon, especially in sparse trees. Ski turns were creating nice "snails" in ~25 degree terrain (see photo). Open, SW and W facing terrain had a stouter crust/better freeze and stayed supportable more than slopes with even sparse trees.

(3-9-20) West-facing middle elevation slopes became wet and unsupportable Monday afternoon. This "snail" formed when snow rolled down a gentle slope below a ski turn.

Avalanche Problems

Wind slab: D1-1.5 in alpine terrain but very isolated distribution and easily avoided/managed.
Wet loose: Today, this wasn't a full-blown problem. But, there is potential for full depth wet loose slides in the coming days, mainly on the eastern and western thirds of the compass below about 9000' where the snowpack is shallow.

Terrain Use

I planned to avoid steep, wind-loaded slopes but did not encounter any. I would not have skied steep west aspects late this afternoon (possible wet loose issues as well as knee preservation).