Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 8, 2022
Submitted:
February 8, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Little Wood/Muldoon Ck

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Driving and glassing obs. My best guess is that the recent avalanches may have failed during elevated wind on the 5th or 6th.

Bottom Line

Small (D1), recent wind slab avalanches were observed near the Little Wood Reservoir. I glassed lots of other slopes further into the Little Wood and Muldoon without seeing additional slides.

Media/Attachments

Small, natural, wind slab avalanches were observed on E and SE-facing slopes at low and middle elevation. They likely failed on the 5th or 6th.
Sled tracks on the Little Wood side of Martin Canyon Summit.
Looking NW toward the peak at the head of Martin Canyon.
Looking N toward the Copper Ck and Muldoon Ck divide.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
New/Recent Snowfall:
No new snow.

Clear and blue. Warm (but not balmy) in the valley bottom in the afternoon.

Avalanche Observations

I saw three D1 wind slabs on E and SE-facing slopes at middle and lower elevations. See photo.

Snowpack Observations

Just about all slopes have seen heavy weathering from sun and wind. Some obvious surface hoar on N-facing, sheltered, low, and middle elevations.

Steep S and SW-facing slopes were mostly bare up above 9,000', exacerbated by wind-scouring.