Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 22, 2022
Submitted:
January 23, 2022
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos (off duty)
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Location:
Fishhook (6,500-9,900', all aspects)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Cracking in fresh wind slabs. Stability somewhere between fair and good. With continuing wind transport during the day I rated the trend for time period observed as steady.

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

The combination of new snow and wind had created small wind slabs that were easy to trigger. A number of relatively small natural wet loose avalanches occurred during the course of the day.

Media/Attachments

Small natural wet loose avalanche that ran in the Sawtooths on Saturday, January 22nd.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Wind:
Moderate , NW
New/Recent Snowfall:
15cm

Pretty steady NW winds blowing in the morning hours, tapering off and becoming gustier/more sporadic in the afternoon.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Jan 22, 2022
(Exact) 		East Shoulder of Thompson
SE 9900ft 		D2 I-New/Old Interface 0.5ft AS-Skier
c-Intentional
Debris from a large avalanche that was intentionally triggered by a skier in the Sawtooths on Saturday, 1/22.
Report
East Shoulder of Thompson

Snowpack Observations

Wind speed increased in the overnight period and generated a batch of sensitive wind slabs. Winds were blowing out of the NE/N/NW. Fresh slabs were thin but easy to trigger. I intentionally triggered the avalanche reported here and some small cross-loaded pockets on another slope. These slides were all failing on a MFcr+FC combo at the new old interface, the 1/20 weak layer.
I also observed about a half dozen natural wet loose slides that occurred during the course of the day. These were mostly in the D1 range but I saw a few D1.5s as well. Wet loose avalanches would have been a problem in the wrong terrain at the wrong time of day.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wind Slab
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
Unreactive
Stubborn
Reactive
Touchy
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
 Weak Layer(s): Jan 20, 2022 (FCsf)
Comments: Rose shaded based on where these were encountered and where they were expected to be most reactive. On northerly aspects the wind transport was mostly in the scouring regime. Wind transport had been much less at middle elevations.

Wet loose would have been an issue if you went looking for it.

Terrain Use

I felt comfortable identifying and managing small wind slabs, but traveled with much more caution than prior to this storm.