Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 27, 2022
Submitted:
December 29, 2022
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos (off duty)
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Galena Peak (7,300-10,300', primarily S-SW-W-NW-N)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Isolated cracking in fresh drifts in exposed terrain. No collapsing experienced, but it was so loud with the wind I could've missed one.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Poor
Confidence in Rating: 
Low
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Obscured
Wind:
Extreme , W

Honking winds, precip rates of S2-3 observed. Then, I experienced frontal passage. The winds eased and the skies opened a bit and temps started dropping (around 1700). Tough to get a great sense of HST due to the wind, maybe 25-30 dense cm?

Avalanche Observations

I observed crowns of two relatively small slides (D1.5 estimated, I could only see crowns). These failed on N-facing slopes as stiff, 20-30cm wind slabs.

Snowpack Observations

Mostly just moving through terrain and taking it all in. Winds were cranking, tons of snow moving and being redeposited, good clean fun. A hit of rain had fallen to at least 7,500 in the middle of the storm, there were a bunch of roller balls and some added moisture in the snow here. Above this the snow was quite dense, and skied like the finest of Philadelphia cream cheese. I had decent visibility into both of the large bowls on the W side of Galena peak and I could not see any large avalanches.