Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 19, 2020
Submitted:
March 19, 2020
Observer:
SAC - Lundy
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Titus Ridge

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Observed a handful of small wet loose that occurred today.

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

This area had 10" of settled storm snow since the weekend. It fell on a variety of surfaces—on shady/sheltered slopes there are facets beneath, but on many other slopes it's a hard crust or old wind hardened snow. There does not seem to be a widespread slab or a widespread weak layer, but both may exist in isolated spots where a wind slab sits atop an old faceted surface.

Media/Attachments

Several small slabs that ran towards the end of this past weekend's storm.
More late storm slides, likely shallow slabs. In the foreground, there is a fresh wet loose.
Skier traffic in the Titus Lake Chutes
Skier traffic on Titus Peak.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Temperature:
upper 20s
Wind:
Light

Cloud cover was more in the WR Valley (SCT going to BKN by afternoon) than in the Sawtooth Valley (FEW to SCT). Between a cool light wind and some clouds, it did not get as warm as expected.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Upper Alturas
NE ~9500 		D1.5 U Saw some fresher looking debris from a long ways. Start zone was shadowed, but appeared to come from a wind loaded ridgeline. Unfortunately my photo ended up super blurry. None
Several Titus Ridge/Eds Face
N 9400 		D1 SS I-New/Old Interface N-Natural Several small slabs that ran towards the end of this past weekend's storm.
Several small slabs that ran towards the end of this past weekend's storm.

Saw a few new wet loose in the Sawtooths this afternoon, but overall today's WL activity was pretty limited.

Snowpack Observations

Settled storm snow since 3/14 seemed to be around 25cm at upper elevations. Slopes getting any amount of sun consist of the recent snow in various states of getting baked down onto old crusts. On shady slopes, the 3/14 interface is highly variable, ranging from wind hardened surfaces to very weak near surface facets. I dug a pit on a shady/sheltered slope (NE, 9600) where it was very obvious that the recent snow was sitting on facets. I got two ECTP6 and ECTP9 down 25cm on the 3/14 interface (see photo). Despite this result, there was very little slab (F+/4F-) and this layering seemed isolated. Hand pits in other places with wind affected snow below didn't give any clean shears.

NE, 9600': ECTP6 down 25cm on 3/14 FCsf

Avalanche Problems

No wind slabs observed, seemed cool enough that the wet loose wasn't a significant issue where I was.