Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 17, 2021
Submitted:
January 18, 2021
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Galena Summit - Forecaster's Knob (8,600-8,900, NE-E-SE-S)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Bottom Line

A short trip to look at snowpack characteristics at site of remotely-triggered avalanche. The snowpack here is very similar to that observed in other places in our forecast area that have a similar snow depth.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Cloudy
Temperature:
near freezing
Wind:
Moderate , W

Cloud cover increasing in late morning hours and precipitation starting around noon.

Snowpack Observations

Avalanche failed on small facets on top of melt-freeze crust that caps the December facets. The combination of warm ambient air temperatures and solar radiation immediately prior to the burial of this layer produced this crust. This crust+facet combo was very similar to the bed surface I observed on the Gladiator Creek natural avalanche I visited on 1/10.

Avalanche was 50' wide, ran about 100' along slope, and broke up to 2' deep. Bed surface angle ranged between 36-40*, primarily 37-38*. It failed just below the old toll road, where the slope was steepened by the building of the road.