Pro Field Report
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
January 19, 2021Submitted:
January 19, 2021Observer:
SAC - Scott SavageZone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley MtnsLocation:
Croy Creek (SW-W-NW-N-NE-E: 5500-6500')Signs of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
GoodConfidence in Rating:
ModerateStability Trend:
Bottom Line
Quick tour in lower and middle elevation terrain in Croy Canyon to the Croy-Colorado Gulch divide. First field trip since mid-December with no cracking or collapsing. Plenty of weak snow, but lacking a slab to be dangerous except in isolated, heavily wind-loaded terrain in this general area. Katie bar the doors when it snows for real though!
Media/Attachments
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
Mostly SunnyTemperature:
Estimated just below freezingWind:
LightNo snow easily available for transport with the widespread surface crust.
Snowpack Observations
HS=20-70cm to 6500' with bare ground on some SW and S aspects. 1-3cm thick surface crust from the Jan 12-13 storm - crust is faceting/degrading on shady aspects. Solstice rain crust (12/21) is sporadic overall but remains an intact 2-3mm impermeable rain crust on E aspects 6200-6500'.
NW 6250': ECTN1 under surface crust, ECTN13 on SH/crust interface at 20cm. PST 18/100 SF on SH/crust interface at 20cm. See attached SnowPilot profile and pit photo.
Avalanche Problems
I didn't include an Avalanche Problem because of the general lack of a slab capable of causing avalanches where I traveled. With additional loading, there will be an obvious Persistent Slab problem here.
Terrain Use
Steep, recently wind-loaded terrain was off-limits but I found very little of that. I kept my slope angles to less than 30*. I was traveling solo; with a partner, I would have felt comfortable in all non-wind-loaded terrain and in wind-loaded terrain 30-35*.