Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 1, 2022
Submitted:
March 1, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Fox Pk (All aspects, 6,700-9,100')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
10-20 cm cracking in recently formed drifts. Isolated to exposed ridgeline along the top of Fox Pk.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Worsening

Bottom Line

Near-surface snow was getting wet but had not developed a full-blown wet avalanche problem. Recent snow + wind built some small isolated drifts but no slabs of consequence.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Wind:
Light , W
New/Recent Snowfall:
HST = 3 cm

It stayed dry in Hailey. There were some very short breaks of blue but no true full sun until after 5 PM. Very light rain in Ketchum when I was there in the morning and early afternoon. Light rain/drizzle at Baker Ck parking lot.

Baker Ck to Fox Pk: Rain/snow line fluctuated from 8,000-8,300' during midday. Moist/heavy snow S1 or S-1 above 8,300' on Fox Pk but never felt like it accumulated thanks to warm temperatures.

Wind was not strong enough to drift any snow where I was.

Avalanche Observations

Visibility was poor, but I did not see any fresh avalanches in the immediate Baker Ck area.

Snowpack Observations

Upper Elevations:
There was about 10 cm of moist recent snow above the most obvious crust that was buried around Feb. 14th. Just under half of which was from last night and today. Slopes that get more sun had very stiff crusts beneath the recent snow. These crusts tapered on shadier margins. Beneath the crusts, are well-developed facets (w/ perc columns on steeper sunnier slopes)

Middle and Lower Elevations (below rain line):
Rain wetted the upper 10-20 cm here. The crusts on steeper sunnier slopes were still boot supportable, but weakening quickly. On shadier or flatter slopes, where the crusts were thinner, they were broken down and wet/moist. The snow beneath these crusts was heavily faceted on shadier slopes.

Overall:
It seemed there was much more precipitation from Ketchum to Baker Ck than forecast. I could imagine small reactive wind slabs further up Baker Ck along the Smoky Crest. The rain primed the pump in this location but from what I saw, it didn't quite reach the tipping point for natural wet loose. I imagine I could have pushed some small oozers on very steep slopes below the rain line.

Terrain Use

I did not close any terrain ahead of time. I would have avoided terrain traps with overhead hazard at lower elevations in the afternoon.