Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 28, 2021
Submitted:
December 28, 2021
Observer:
Pro
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Eagle Creek (NE-SW, 6200-8000')

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Fair
Confidence in Rating: 
Low
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

We chose terrain to match the current hazard-- multiple aspects in the Eagle Creek drainage up to 8000' held little to no snow prior to three weeks ago, and have received fairly consistent snowfall since. NE aspects harbored SH @ 44cm from weather clearing two weeks ago that we kept eyes on, as well as new snow instabilities from wind and changes in snowfall throughout this multi-day storm.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Temperature:
Single digits F
Wind:
Calm

Skinning-in-a-puffy cold

Avalanche Observations

We did not observe any recent avalanches in this area or surrounding visible zones/Eagle Creek Headwall

Snowpack Observations

Pit on a NE aspect, 6600'. S aspects had no snow before this
HS 90cm, surface hoar visible at 44cm. ECTN4 @ 80cm, ECTN8 @ 60cm, ECTN16 @ 44cm on SH, ECTN27 @ 34cm; notable fractures in the lower ECTN scores drew some pause and were barely discernable density changes/storm interfaces due to the recent multi-day storm. Worth noting if skiing in higher elevation terrain or anything more wind loaded.

Avalanche Problems

Higher elevation terrain poses the persistent slab threat, but lower to mid-elevation zones and aspects harbor primarily new snow instabilities.

Terrain Use

We chose to ski terrain that harbored snow no older than the previous 3 weeks.