Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 7, 2021
Submitted:
April 7, 2021
Observer:
SAC - Davis, Gardiner
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Warm Spring Ck - Baldy O.B. (Primarily W-N-E, Middle and Lower Elevations)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

Steep, sunny slopes, and all aspects at low elevations were likely mush by the late afternoon. There's a small chance that locations with a weak freeze due to cloud/canopy cover may see prolonged mushy/wet conditions tomorrow morning. However, stability will improve as the overall liquid water content in the snow decreases steadily tonight into tomorrow.

Media/Attachments

Percolation columns or "flow fingers" in a transitional snowpack that hasn't been fully wetted. HS = 130 cm, NNW at 8,500'.
Any slope with a slight W slant was bare or close to it up to about 8,000'...
Percolation columns extend from the surface down to the obvious weak layer just below the handle of the shovel. The meltwater had re-frozen at this layer and had not penetrated deeper into the pack. HS = 130 cm, NNW at 8,500'.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
37F
Wind:
Light , SW

Warm day with a light breeze. Very few clouds in the immediate area with slightly more over the Smokys.

Snowpack Observations

All low elevations and sunny E-S-W facing slopes have seen substantial melt-freeze cycles and were generally well-drained (wet but not pooling water).

Upper elevation NW-N-NE were dry aside from thin surface crusts. Moving down into middle elevations on these aspects, percolation columns brought water to a weak layer in the mid-pack where it pooled and re-froze (assuming over this past weekend). December facets were still dry (see photo).

Percolation columns extend from the surface down to the obvious weak layer just below the handle of the shovel. The meltwater had re-frozen at this layer and had not penetrated deeper into the pack. HS = 130 cm, NNW at 8,500'.

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: Problem rose is shaded where I could see this being a small problem. Low elevations were saturated top to bottom. The overall snowpack here was thin, and I'd assume you could have found some wet mank to push on steep slopes later in the afternoon.

Terrain Use

We skied and hiked N-facing terrain to our heart's content. I would have avoided steep S-SW-W in the heat of the afternoon.