Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 11, 2020
Submitted:
March 11, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Davis, Stefan, Linnet
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Mushroom and Gnarnia

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

We did not encounter any avalanche problems on our tour. Crusts at the snow surface stayed cool, skiing as just edgeable corn on steep south-facing slopes at 1 PM. We did anticipate that crusts would have deteriorated more substantially on sheltered, middle and low elevation SW-W-NW facing slopes late in the day.

Media/Attachments

This wet loose avalanche occurred in the Boulder Mountains sometime in the last couple of days. It initiated as afternoon sun warmed these W-facing rocks at upper elevation.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Wind:
Moderate , W

Mostly clear skies with a few passing clouds. Some large snow plumes were spotted in the White Clouds but only on a couple of the highest peaks.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Boulder Mountains - Gnarnia
W 10,000 		D1 WL Likely occurred yesterday or the day before.
This wet loose avalanche occurred in the Boulder Mountains sometime in the last couple of days. It initiated as afternoon sun warmed these W-facing rocks at upper elevation.

Snowpack Observations

Steeper, north-facing slopes at upper elevations held cold soft snow. Crusts increased in thickness from north aspects around to due south and southwest. Several pole pokes beneath these crusts revealed generally uniform weak facets to the ground.

Terrain Use

We did not close any steep slopes. We anticipated needing to do so on SW-W-NW facing middle and low elevation slopes if our day extended into the late afternoon.