Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 1, 2021
Submitted:
December 2, 2021
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Titus Ridge (8,700-9,500)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

The extended drought is having a detrimental impact on the snowpack, particularly on sopes at upper elevations and those that don't face the sun.

Media/Attachments

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CW_bsVvFGxO/

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
way too warm (est 50 F at pass)
Wind:
Calm

Snowpack Observations

My primary objective was to look at how snow is behaving on colder slopes. I found that by around 9,000' on slopes that face the northern 1/4 of the compass the snowpack was mostly dry. There is some residual moisture at the base of the snowpack (lower 10-15cm are still moist), but the majority of the snowpack is dry here (HS=60-70cm). Where the snowpack is mostly cold and dry it is slowly losing strength, particularly adjacent to the several crusts that exist in the upper half of the pack. Near these crusts, I found some moderately faceted snow grains, but it was tough to get a good look at anything thanks to the ~50 F ambient air temperatures. I also found a variably distributed layer of surface hoar on the snow surface, with crystals up to 1cm in length. This was burned off in areas that receive much sun but was present on top of a subtle, ambient air temperature melt-freeze crust on colder slopes.

Snowpit at 9,000' on a NW-aspect near Galena Summit.