Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 18, 2021
Submitted:
March 18, 2021
Observer:
SAC - Ethan Davis
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Dollarhide (All aspects, 6,400-8,000')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
Isolated
Localized collapsing of melt-freeze crust onto wet snow below.

Bottom Line

Stability headed toward poor on steep south-facing slopes at middle and lower elevation. A weak freeze last night and hot temps already this morning had weakened crusts by noon. I was sinking through wet snow to the ground on steep sunny slopes. Stability remained good to very good on shaded slopes which showed little ill effect from the warmups of the last couple of weeks.

Media/Attachments

Recent wet loose activity above Rough Canyon out Warm Springs Ck. W-facing slope at 8,000'.
This slide path has debris from an avalanche reported back in mid-February. Notably, that slide ran full path and buried the creek and Warm Springs Rd. It also has a pile of D1 wet avalanche debris that snakes in from lookers right and stops mid-track.
These slides are above Warm Springs Rd on an E-facing slope at 7,100'.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
Trace of graupel/light snow from yesterday afternoon.

Cloudy this morning, then sunny and then cloudy... etc. Very warm in areas with calm wind and prolonged sun.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
4 Rough Canyon
W 8000 		D1 WL N-Natural
Recent wet loose activity above Rough Canyon out Warm Springs Ck. W-facing slope at 8,000'.
1 Shaw
S 8500 		D1.5 WL N-Natural Debris in center of photo
This slide path has debris from an avalanche reported back in mid-February. Notably, that slide ran full path and buried the creek and Warm Springs Rd. It also has a pile of D1 wet avalanche debris that snakes in from lookers right and stops mid-track.
1 Warm Springs Rd
E 7,100 		D1 WL N-Natural
These slides are above Warm Springs Rd on an E-facing slope at 7,100'.

There isn't a lot of steep, rocky, S-facing terrain out Warm Springs, and what terrain there is was worked over or burned to dirt in many locations out to about Placer Ck. Overall, not much wet avalanche activity from the past two warm-ups.

Snowpack Observations

Sunny Low/Middle Elevations:
Mostly bare until about Placer Ck. Then variable snow depths averaging 50-70 cm. I found a 20-30 cm melt-freeze crust that was quickly softening. Beneath the crust I found wet snow to the ground. Boot pen to inseam. Tough/stupid off trail riding conditions by 1PM.

Shaded Low/Middle Elevations:
Upper half of the snowpack has consolidated/settled and strengthened considerably in the last couple of weeks. Melt-freeze crust at the surface was only a few cm thick and the snowpack was dry. Weak, dry, facets haven't gone away and still sit near the base of the snowpack.

Tracks in avalanche paths on E shots off Dollarhide, NW shots just past the winter TH, and highmarks in bowls out the W. Fork of Placer Ck. with no results.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wet Loose
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
 Comments: Not quite a problem when I was out but headed quickly in that direction as long as the sun stayed out. Rose shaded where I anticipated a problem.

Terrain Use

Travel in soggy wet snow was self-limiting so easy to avoid. I would have skied steep slopes with cooler snow.