Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 30, 2022
Submitted:
March 30, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Horse Ck (All aspects, 7,700-9,200')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

The slow drain/refreeze of the snowpack continues. Surface crusts were stronger and slightly thicker today. I skied good corn on souths at 1:00 PM. Moist snow below the 10-30 cm crust seems to be draining fairly well although it was still moist/wet in most places. I imagine another cool night and cooler high temperatures over the next couple of days will lock this problem up tight.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Temperature:
40 F
Wind:
Light , NW

Warm in the sun, mild in the shade. Light NW wind. No snow moving.

Snowpack Observations

I targeted middle elevations to see how the freeze and wet issues compared to what I saw yesterday in Baker Ck:

The freeze was much more substantial down low. Baker Ck parking was rock hard this morning compared to a thinner (~10 cm) surface crust that was not boot supportable yesterday.

Middle elevations were faring better today by midday as well. Crusts were 10-30 cm and boot supportable in most open-sky locations. Snow under the crusts was still wet/moist on most sunny slopes but didn't feel as wet as yesterday. I did find a boot pen to inseam on a 9,100' SW-facing slope with an open sky view. It was easy to push my pole through the crust basket-first. Despite that weaker crust, corn skiing was good around 1 PM on S and SW.

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: Rose shaded where observed. I don't think shadier slopes would have the necessary meltwater production rate to be an issue.

Terrain Use

I would have avoided S-SW-W in the afternoon, mainly for ski-quality and trapdoor conditions.