Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 5, 2021
Submitted:
January 5, 2021
Observer:
SAC - Scott Savage
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
driving Hailey to Stanley looking for avalanches (all - but from HWY 75)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
No first-hand snow observations, so cracking and collapsing fields would be "N/A".

Bottom Line

I saw a significant amount of natural avalanche activity from Eagle Ck to Stanley. Based on the amount of snow blown into some crowns, most activity appeared to happen on more northerly aspects earlier in the storm (Monday evening/night) and then on E/SE aspects later in the storm (Monday night/early Tuesday morning). There was also some activity on middle elevation aspects that were not obviously affected by the wind. Many of the crowns appeared to be persistent slabs failing on the Dec 11th faceted layer.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Temperature:
teens F
Wind:
Light
New/Recent Snowfall:
6-10" at the valley floors in past 24 hrs. Some clouds moving in around Sawtooths/Stanley in the afternoon.

Wind transported snow: lots of evidence of previous transport (Monday and Monday night) but no active transport on Tuesday.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Merritt Peak - Goat Ck
SE 9800ft
D3 O-Old Snow N-Natural
Large persistent slab avalanche (SE-9800') on Merritt Peak.
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Crooked Creek
NE 9400ft
D2 U-Unknown N-Natural
Report
3 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Williams Peak - Upper Marshall Lake
NE 9800ft
D2 U-Unknown N-Natural
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Thompson Peak - Profile Lake
NE 10000ft
D2 U-Unknown N-Natural
Natural slab avalanche on Thompson Peak (NE, 10000').
Report
3 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Horton Peak - Salmon River
NW 9600ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
These persistent slab avalanches released naturally on Horton Peak on NW aspects from 9400-9800'.
Report
3 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Cabin Ck
E 9300ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural
Persistent slab in Cabin Ck drainage, SE aspect near 9300'.
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Bromaghin Peak - Salmon Headwaters
NE 9000ft
D2 U-Unknown O-Old Snow N-Natural Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Saviers Peak - Salmon Headwaters
N 10000ft
D2.5 U-Unknown N-Natural
Tall crown in alpine terrain on the N side of Saviers Peak in the Salmon Headwaters drainage.
Report
3 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Eagle Ck
W 8900ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural Report
5 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Abes Armchair - Sawmill and Smiley Ck
E 9400ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural
Several natural slab avalanches on Abe's Armchair: E-NE aspects from 9000-9400'.
Closer look at wider Abes crown
Persistent slab avalanches on Abes Armchair near Smiley Creek: E, sheltered middle elevation slopes.
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Smiley Ck
N 8900ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural
Wide crown in the Smiley Ck drainage, N aspect near 8900'.
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Smiley Ck
NE 9200ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural
Persistent slab avalanche in the Smiley Ck drainage on a N aspect near 9100'.
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Smiley Ck - Sawmill Canyon
NE 9800ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural Report
3 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Frenchman Ck
E 9300ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural Report
2 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Prairie Ck
NE 9600ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Anderson Ck
E 9400ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural
Anderson Ck E-NE 9400 ft.
Report
5 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Goat Ck
SE 9500ft
D1.5 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
This large persistent slab avalanche released naturally during the Jan 4-5 storm on an E aspect near 9900' in the Goat Ck drainage (near Durrance Mtn).  Sun Valley Heli Ski photo.
Report
2 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Goat Ck
E 9000ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow 2ft N-Natural
This large persistent slab avalanche released naturally during the Jan 4-5 storm on an E aspect near 9900' in the Goat Ck drainage (near Durrance Mtn).  Sun Valley Heli Ski photo.
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Goat Ck
E 9900ft
D2.5 U-Unknown O-Old Snow N-Natural
This large persistent slab avalanche released naturally during the Jan 4-5 storm on an E aspect near 9900' in the Goat Ck drainage (near Durrance Mtn).  Sun Valley Heli Ski photo.
Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Prairie Ck
E 9700ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
N Fork Wood River
S 9900ft
D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural Report
1 Jan 4, 2021
(+/- 1 day)
Big Wood River
E 5800ft
D1.5 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural Report
Merritt Peak - Goat Ck
Crooked Creek
Williams Peak - Upper Marshall Lake
Thompson Peak - Profile Lake
Horton Peak - Salmon River
Cabin Ck
Bromaghin Peak - Salmon Headwaters
Saviers Peak - Salmon Headwaters
Eagle Ck
Abes Armchair - Sawmill and Smiley Ck
Smiley Ck
Smiley Ck
Smiley Ck - Sawmill Canyon
Frenchman Ck
Prairie Ck
Anderson Ck
Goat Ck
Goat Ck
Goat Ck
Prairie Ck
N Fork Wood River
Big Wood River

See photos and Avalanche Occurrence entries