Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 23, 2022
Submitted:
March 23, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis, VandenBos
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Prairie Ck Pk (All but W, 7,000'-9,400')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Numerous wet snow avalanches occured in the morning hours on upper elevation E and SE.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Fair
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Worsening

Bottom Line

Today got noticeably hotter earlier in the day. A weaker freeze was quickly decomposing on steep E-SE-S-SW facing slopes before noon. Small, natural wet loose avalanches were observed (happening this morning) on E and SE facing terrain in Mill and Prairie Ck drainages. Unfortunately this is only Day 1 of a 5 Day warm-up, so conditions are likely to get worse as meltwater works deeper into the snowpack.

Media/Attachments

Wet loose avalanches occurred today (3/23) on E and SE facing terrain in Mill and Prairie Ck drainages.
This wet slide was observed on a NW-facing middle elevation slope in Prairie Ck. It was hard to tell from our vantage, but it may have initiated in rocks with a more W aspect.
Small wet loose avalanches on a SW-face of Galena Pk. They occured sometime after 7 PM on (3/22). So far, there were far fewer slides in the Boulders than in the Smokys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqdHprXxb5M&t=1s

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Temperature:
45-50 F?
Wind:
Light , N

It was very warm. It seemed like ambient air temps were in the 40-50 F range for most of the tour. Mid-50s (and rising?) on the truck thermometer driving home. No clouds to be seen, some haze off into the southern Smokys.

Snowpack Observations

We set out to see (suffer through) the emergence of the wet avalanche issues we'll be dealing with for the next 5 days or so. No formal digging but lots of glassing, hand pits, and surface obs. We exited the field by about 2 PM.

Upper elevations: Wet avalanches were initiating in rocks at upper elevations. They had the appearance of "peelers" that were stripping recent snow off of very steep slopes. Some appeared to gouge deeper as they moved into middle elevation terrain.

Middle elevations: We were able to push small wet loose sluffs on south-facing slopes (9,400') as the matrix of melt-freeze crusts and facets broke down. It was worse on ESE and E where we found fewer and/or thinner crusts and the wet snow was deeper. Super grabby skiing, good sized roller balls. Middle elevations N and NE likely got wet later in the day but I doubt it was moving enough water to be a problem on these aspects with the lack of direct sun.

Lower elevations: Thicker crusts seemed to hold lower elevations together, at least until we left at 2 PM. I'm not sure that would have been the case after 2 PM on SW-W-NW.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wet Loose
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
Unreactive
Stubborn
Reactive
Touchy
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
Comments: We observed widespread wet loose avalanches on E and SE facing terrain in Mill and Prairie Ck drainages. Some of these happened yesterday but most occurred this morning. Less activity so far in the Boulders, likely due to less recent snow and harder surfaces.

Terrain Use

We avoided very steep, sun drenched slopes after about 1130 AM.