Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 11, 2022
Submitted:
November 11, 2022
Observer:
SAC - JP (off duty)
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Titus (8,700-10,000')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
Isolated
Felt a couple of collapses in wind-loaded, shallow ridgelines.

Bottom Line

It was my first tour of the season, so my goal was start cataloguing where the October snow is present and dig some holes. I was able to locate it on most aspects above 9500', besides some south facing slopes.

Media/Attachments

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Wind:
Calm

PM tour started out mostly clear with incoming high clouds to the NW. Plenty of light density snow out there to get moved around.

Avalanche Observations

Dry loose above the Titus parking lot. It was poor light on my drive south, so I'm not sure if there were more in the Boulders.

Snowpack Observations

Dug 3+ pits 9,400-9,800' on W, SSE, NE, NE slopes. Most of the snowpack was rightside up (F>4F+) above the October snow (Moist 1-2mm FC) with CTE (SC), CTMx3 (RP,BRK), ECTP29, ECTP25 results. Most of the snowpack is from 11/4 to present and fairly bonded in between storms. There is a light layer of dust during the 11/7 windstorm?

Pit in photo was the outlier with HS 104cm and much harder layers (F>P>1F above F+ FC). I suspect this location was loaded from one of the days of wind. All layers were glued to each other besides the basal facets which were quite moist.

Ran into another party who dug on a NW at ~9700' HS 75cm and received CT4, ECTP11, ECTP4 on the October snow.

Terrain Use

Solo travel day so I avoided avalanche terrain. I was very much in a Assessment mindset.