Pro Field Report
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
December 2, 2021Submitted:
December 3, 2021Observer:
SAC - VandenBosZone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley MtnsLocation:
Morgan Ridge (6,000-8,500')Signs of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
Very GoodConfidence in Rating:
HighStability Trend:
SteadyBottom Line
A very thin snowpack exists in this area. However, where snow is present it has undergone significant faceting and could present stability problems when loaded.
Media/Attachments
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
ClearTemperature:
way too warm (est 50 F)Wind:
CalmSnowpack Observations
In this area the sun has burned southerly aspects back to dirt up to around 9,500'. There are minor amounts of lingering snow on shaded aspects above about 7,000. There really isn't much of a "snowpack", per se, below ~ 8,000'. Above this, there is an obviously layered snowpack, representing snow that fell since mid-October. I dug at 8,400' on a N aspect and found a snowpack that was 30-40cm deep. The lower half is P to K hard, icy, and well-bonded to the ground. Above this, there is a 5-8cm interval of snow that has undergone quite a bit of faceting, with individual xtals up to ~5mm max. Most of these xtals are closer to acicular than equant. At the surface of the snowpack there is a subtle, ~1cm thick (temp) crust with 4-8mm SH xtals growing on top. Both the mid-pack faceted layer and the current snow surface are concerning.
Not directly related to the snowpack, but there are fresh grass starts at 7,500' in December...
