Public Field Report
Observation Details
Observation Date:
December 3, 2022Submitted:
December 4, 2022Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky MtnsActivity:
Location:
Beaver CreekObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
UpperAspect:
EComments:
9300ft, east aspect.SS-N-D1-R1- U
Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Observed multiple avalanches that had slid during the storm or towards the end, mostly at upper elevation leeward slopes - crowns and paths were covered with fresh snow.
Saw one recent cornice/wind slab that avalanched at upper elevation terrain. East facing, ~9300ft, lots of visual confirmation of large amounts of wind transported snow on similar aspects. This little reminder was enough to know to stay far away from similar terrain and not poke the sleeping bear!
Dug pit @ 9000ft North facing 10* slope
HS: 127-130cm
HST: 75cm
CT14 down @80cm
ECTN20 down @80cm
Both tests showed a weakness in a hard to identify later down at 80cm (assuming this layer formed during small break in the storms?) or this area had more wind transported snow building a slab causing a failure on that layer?
Very concerned about the Nov. layer interface but did not get any test results on it in this particular spot. Will be staying in an assessment mindset for awhile.
Media
