Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 30, 2021
Submitted:
January 30, 2021
Observer:
Chris Lundy
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Driving from Stanley to north of Ketchum

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Cracking/collapsing not applicable - I was driving.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Poor
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

The recent storm produced an extensive avalanche cycle. Avalanches become more numerous the closer you get to the Wood River Valley.

Media/Attachments

Large persistent slab avalanche in Anderson Creek north of Baker Creek. E-facing slope at 9600'.
Wide persistent slab avalanche on a peak near the head of Cabin Creek in the Southern Sawtooths. E, 9900'.
Large avalanches on Durrance above the SNRA headquarters. Note the faint crown running down the subridge in the upper left.
Multiple avalanches in Eagle Creek. NW, 9000'.
Storm slab avalanche near McDonald Peak in the Southern Sawtooths.
Multiple avalanches near the head of Murdock Creek. W aspect at 9600'.
Multiple avalanches in the "Chicken's Foot" in Murdock Creek. NW aspects.
Large avalanche at the head of Owl Creek. SE, 9700'.
Very large persistent slab avalanche in Sawmill Canyon, a branch of Smiley Creek. NE, 10000'.
Avalanche on Titus Ridge just past the highway near Galena Summit. ESE aspect at 9000'.
Persistent slab avalanche on Titus Ridge. N aspect at 9300'.
Avalanche on Triple Peak in Lake Cr.
Multiple slab avalanches in mid-elevation terrain on Triple Peak in Lake Creek. These released on NW aspects at around 7500'.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Cloudy
Temperature:
20 F at pass level, 30 F in valley

Skies were generally broken, except as you approached the WRV where they became scattered.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
8 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Durrance
E ft 		D2 N-Natural
Numerous natural avalanches in the popular ski terrain on Durrance. Sun Valley Heli Ski photo.
Large avalanches on Durrance above the SNRA headquarters. Note the faint crown running down the subridge in the upper left.
Report
1 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Owl Creek
SE 9700ft 		D2 N-Natural
Large avalanche at the head of Owl Creek. SE, 9700'.
Report
1 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Anderson Creek
E 9600ft 		D2 N-Natural
Natural persistent slab avalanche in Anderson Creek. E, 9600'. Sun Valley Heli Ski photo.
Large persistent slab avalanche in Anderson Creek north of Baker Creek. E-facing slope at 9600'.
Report
5 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Triple Peak
NW 8000ft 		D2 N-Natural
Persistent slab avalanche near Triple Peaks in the Lake Ck drainage, 8100' NW. Note how this slide over ran the recent ski tracks (appeared to be from during the storm).
Multiple slab avalanches in mid-elevation terrain on Triple Peak in Lake Creek. These released on NW aspects at around 7500'.
Avalanche on Triple Peak in Lake Cr.
Report
12 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Eagle/Lake Creek Ridgeline
NW 9000ft 		D2 N-Natural
Natural avalanche in Eagle Creek. Sun Valley Heli Ski Guides photo.
Multiple avalanches in Eagle Creek. NW, 9000'.
Report
12 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Murdock Creek ("Chickens Foot" Ridgeline)
NW ft 		D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
Multiple avalanches in the "Chicken's Foot" in Murdock Creek. NW aspects.
Multiple avalanches near the head of Murdock Creek. W aspect at 9600'.
Slab avalanches in Murdock Creek.
Murdoch Ck, W-NW aspects. 15 avalanches are pointed out, 8300-9000' starting zones.
Report
1 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Mid-elevation terrain in Gladiator Cr
W 8400ft 		D2 N-Natural Report
1 Jan 28, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Timber Bowl - Lookers Right side
NW 9300ft 		D2 U-Unknown Report
6 Jan 28, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Mid elevations, Smiley Creek area
E ft 		D1.5 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
Report
1 Jan 28, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Sawmill Canyon
NE 10100ft 		D3 O-Old Snow N-Natural
Very large persistent slab avalanche in Sawmill Canyon, a branch of Smiley Creek. NE, 10000'.
Report
1 Jan 28, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Cabin Peak
E 9900ft 		D2.5 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
Wide persistent slab avalanche on a peak near the head of Cabin Creek in the Southern Sawtooths. E, 9900'.
Report
1 Jan 28, 2021
(+/- 3 days) 		Near McDonald Peak
E 9500ft 		D1.5 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
Storm slab avalanche near McDonald Peak in the Southern Sawtooths.
Report
Durrance
Owl Creek
Anderson Creek
Triple Peak
Eagle/Lake Creek Ridgeline
Murdock Creek ("Chickens Foot" Ridgeline)
Mid-elevation terrain in Gladiator Cr
Timber Bowl - Lookers Right side
Mid elevations, Smiley Creek area
Sawmill Canyon
Cabin Peak
Near McDonald Peak

Avalanche occurrences will be entered soon.

I had poor visibility of the Sawtooths on both the out and back. The terrain I did see was fairly quiet. The most notable slide was a large persistent slab on the peak at the head of Cabin Cr in the southern Sawtooths.

I had fair visibility of the mountains near Smiley Creek. There were a couple of large persistent slabs and a handful of smaller mid-elevation slides. The visibility in the Smokys from Galena Summit to Baker Creek was hit or miss. I saw at least a couple of large persistent slabs in addition to the ones near Titus Ridge already reported.

It's no surprise that the avalanche activity was much more extensive south of the SNRA headquarters where the snowpack was weaker and the storm stronger. There were numerous, large persistent slabs on Durrance, in Murdock and Eagle Creek, and on Triple Peak.

Snowpack Observations

Closer to the Wood River Valley, the slab depth seemed more uniform although I'm uncertain whether it's the old snow surface (1/26) or the older facets (12/11). Further north, slab depth was more variable and the failure layer is more difficult to guess. At least some of the slides appear to be breaking on persistent weak layers above 12/11.