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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 10, 2020
Submitted:
March 10, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Savage
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Location:
driving and glassing Ketchum to Sunny Gulch/Stanley Ranger Station: Sawtooths, Smokys, Boulders

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Fair
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 

Bottom Line

Widespread small, natural wet loose and loose snow slides originating in rocky, alpine terrain. Few, if any, of the slides were big enough to bury people-but, many were big enough to knock you over. Wet loose avalanche activity was focused on E/SE aspects, some dry loose were seen on NE aspects (cornice triggered), and there were a couple of small loose snow slides on NE and NW slopes at middle elevations. Due to my timing and the terrain I could see from the highway, I didn't get to see many W-facing slopes affected by late afternoon direct sunshine. With warmer temps forecast for Wednesday, expect another round of similar natural activity.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
10 Today W Fork Prairie Ck
SE alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural 5 of the slides were D1.5 (a couple were the largest I saw today), and 5 were smaller D1-1.5. The larger slides were on E/SE aspects.
(3-10-20) These small, natural wet loose avalanches released on E and SE aspects in alpine terrain in the W Fork Prairie Ck drainage.
2 Today Saviers Peak
SE alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural D1-1.5 None
1 Today Head of Big Wood River near Titus Lake trailhead
NW 8800' 		D1 WL N-Natural None
1 Today Salmon Headwaters (ridge between Frenchman and Salmon)
E 8000 		D1 WL N-Natural None
1 Today Sawmill Canyon (Smiley Creek)
E alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural None
5 Today Cabin Ck Lakes
SE alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural E, SE, and S aspects None
1 Today McDonald Peak
E alpine 		D1 WL N-Natural None
6 Today Parks Peak
SE alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural None
3 Today Imogene
E alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural E and SE aspects None
6 Today Finger of Fate to Decker Peak
E alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural E and SE aspects None
8 Today Decker Peak area
NE alpine 		D1.5 L N-Natural Several D1-1.5 dry sluffs in shady terrain were triggered by small natural cornice fall (cornices in the sun) None
25 Today Grand Mogul-Heyburn-Thompson-Williams Peak area
SE alpine 		D1.5 WL N-Natural Many small, D1-1.5 slides on E and SE aspects None
1
None

First day of full sun and light winds following the small storms last weekend led to predictable results. The small, natural cornice failures leading to dry sluffs were interesting - there must be some very soft cornice growth to be that sensitive to the sun today.

Snowpack Observations

No observations - roadside glassing with binoculars.

Terrain Use

N/A

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