Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 5, 2022
Submitted:
January 5, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Above Baker Lake (S-SE-E, 7,900-9,500)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Very small cracks in thin wind drifts isolated to ridge caps and cornices.

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

There was plenty of new snow and wind to build wind slabs at upper elevation. In middle elevations, the swirling wind did not create wind slabs. There's over a foot of new snow here, but at this point, it does not pose any additional hazard in wind-sheltered terrain.

Media/Attachments

Snow pit on a SSW-facing slope at 8,600'. Overall snow depth was 115 cm. The uppermost "double" line is the 1/3 near-surface facet layer. ECTNs throughout.
Dirty shears at the (1/3) layer. In this location there was less graupel but a thin 2-3 mm faceted layer (radiation recrystallization) was present.
Heavily rimed snowfall and small graupel was found at the base of 30-40 cm of new snow since (1/3/22). This graupel layer was also reported near Smiley Ck Lodge and in the foothills of the White Clouds.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
Low 20s
Wind:
Moderate , W
New/Recent Snowfall:
HST = 30-40 cm since (1/3)

It was 28 F at the Baker Ck lot and 30 F in Ketchum. I'd estimate it was in the low 20s F above Baker Lake. It snowed S1 for the majority of the afternoon. Wind blew moderate from the W at middle elevation and strong to extreme at upper elevations.

Avalanche Observations

There were no slab avalanches on the steeper slopes above Baker Ck road. I did not have the visibility to look into start zones.

Snowpack Observations

My objectives today were to look at the (1/3) and (12/19) interfaces on steeper solar aspects and to get a general update on the storm's progress. There is 1' or about 30 cm of new snow in the Baker Ck parking lot since Monday night.

@8,600', SSW: HS 100-120cm. I found a fragile radiation recrystallization crust and obvious small facets at the (1/3) interface. I also found graupel at this interface in one of the two locations that I dug. The (12/19) layer consisted of small facets that were squished and decently bonded into the overlying slab. I recorded ECTNs (x2) throughout.

Snow pit on a SSW-facing slope at 8,600'. Overall snow depth was 115 cm. The uppermost "double" line is the 1/3 near-surface facet layer. ECTNs throughout.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wind Slab
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
 Unknown
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
 Comments: I did not directly observe any wind slabs at the middle/upper transition. The wind here switched frequently from W to E, I felt like I was in a "back-eddy" from the obvious (loud) strong to extreme winds above me at the Smoky Crest.
Persistent Slab
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
 Layer Depth/Date: >100 cm
Weak Layer(s): Dec 11, 2021 (FC)
Comments: Shaded based on regional patterns and previous obs.

Terrain Use

Wind slabs in exposed middle and upper elevations, as well as old October snow on shaded middle and upper elevations, drove my terrain choices. I avoided avalanche terrain where these problems were thought/known to exist.