Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 16, 2021
Submitted:
March 16, 2021
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos (off duty), VandenBos, Gall
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Boundary Creek (6,500-9,000, W-SW-S-SE-E)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
Isolated
Isolated collapsing when 10cm thick melt-freeze crust collapsed into unfrozen snow below.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
trace of graupel

<5% cloud cover during the morning hours, the occasional breath of light wind but mostly calm. Clouds aloft were trending NE.

Snowpack Observations

10cm thick, well-supportable melt-freeze crust had formed overnight on solars. Underneath, snow was moist to the ground, with a few crusts. A 20cm interval in the middle of the pack was noticeably wetter than the snow above and below. HS=60-80cm at 8,000' on SE. On SE, surfaces had softened for a short window of excellent corn by 1030, but crust was becoming unsupportable by 1130.

Avalanche Problems

Didn't directly encounter avalanche problems, but would have been concerned about gouging wet loose in steeper terrain. Not sure there was enough water production for wet slabs today, but wouldn't have wanted to go looking for them.