Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 24, 2022
Submitted:
March 25, 2022
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos (off duty)
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Galena Peak (7,300-11,100, all aspects)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
Isolated

Snow Stability

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

Media/Attachments

Large wet loose debris pile near Norton
This wet slab avalanche was observed on 3/24 on an E/SE facing slope at 9,700' above the W Fk of the E Fk of the Salmon River. It may have been triggered by a small wet loose avalanche from above.
This wet slab avalanche was observed on 3/24 on an E/SE facing slope at 9,700' above the W Fk of the E Fk of the Salmon River. It may have been triggered by a small wet loose avalanche from above.
Surficial and more deeply gouging wet loose avalanches in the Sawtooth Mountains.
Large cornice collapse in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Wind:
Light , NW

Clear skies with calm to light winds and periodic moderate to strong gusts.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Mar 23, 2022
(+/- 1 day) 		W Fk E Fk Salmon
SE 9700ft 		D2 N-Natural Report
W Fk E Fk Salmon

Snowpack Observations

No formal obs, just moving through terrain. Radiative cooling had generated a stout crust overnight despite warm temperatures. Aggressive upside-down pole probing revealed it was 6-10cm thick and there was moist, unfrozen snow beneath. Northern quarter of the compass was dry and crust-free down to 9,300' (I didn't look any lower than this). SE was in full-on meltdown mode by 1130. I experienced some trap door collapses here, including one collapse that propagated out roughly 10m in either direction on a 20-25 degree slope. Felt like prime conditions for triggering a wet slab had the slope been steeper. Yuck. It was hard to say for certain what the weak layer involved was, there was a bit of a crust about 40cm down and some very weak, wet snow below that I suspected represented the 1/20 interface? The overlying slab still had some meat to it but the weak snow beneath was F- porridge. I didn't have time to dig around at that point, it was time to go. Glassing around, there was a lot of fresh wet loose during the day, some starting to gouge a little deeper into the snowpack.

Friendly reminder that there are still some very large cornices out there, many of which partially peeled back from ridgelines in late December/early January. These crevasses got refilled by trickling snows in the past months but I'd imagine we will see some of these whoppers come rumbling down.