Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 26, 2021
Submitted:
February 26, 2021
Observer:
SAC - Scott Savage
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Baker Ck (quick ride out to summer trailhead - in snow obs to 8000')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Isolated drifts along road cracked when riding into them, minimal distance though.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Fair
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 

Bottom Line

I saw 1 natural D1.5 (estimated, mediocre light) near the head of Baker Ck, mixture of dry loose and soft slab characteristics on an alpine SE aspect. Moderate winds were moving snow at upper elevation ridgelines. Probably lots of soft wind slabs, soft cornice growth, and loose snow (sluffs) hazard to negotiate at upper elevations. Middle elevations appeared to be mostly spared from wind transport as of Friday afternoon. About 5-6" of new storm snow at Baker Ck summer trailhead, about 2-3" in the parking lot.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Obscured
Temperature:
Teens and lower 20s F
Wind:
Moderate
New/Recent Snowfall:
HST 5-6" (12-15cm) at 8000'. HST 2.5-3" (7-8cm) parking lot to Norton Ck (6600-7300').

Mixed bag of weather with some S3 before partial clearing late afternoon.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Baker Ck headwaters
SE 9600 		D1.5 SS N-Natural Mixed dry loose and soft slab slide, appeared to start as dry loose but I'm not positive. None

I saw several tiny loose snow dribbles coming off very steep, exposed upper elevation ridgelines during the little bit of good visibility I had (Baker Ck, Norton Ck).

Snowpack Observations

Hand pits along the road showed the new snow bonding reasonably well to the 2cm thick, hard sun crust below on 15-20 degree sun-exposed cut banks.

Avalanche Problems

No formal observations as there were no real avalanche problems in the roadside terrain. I'm confident there are widespread wind slab and dry loose problems (D1-2 and mostly D1-1.5) in upper elevation terrain where the wind was actively transporting snow while I was out. I would expect natural and easily human-triggered soft cornice fall to cause more activity if the wind keeps blowing at moderate speeds.

Terrain Use

I avoided all avalanche terrain during a very short mission to check new snowfall amounts and wind transport at middle and upper elevations.