Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 3, 2022
Submitted:
December 4, 2022
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Galena summit

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
Mid elevation road cuts
Aspect:
S
Comments:
Many small releases from snow plows on the highway

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Widespread
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Widespread

Observations

Sunny cold morning. Windy on ridge lines. Cold dry snow on north aspects and warming/ settling snow on S. Widespread collapsing as we traveled. Shooting cracks on some ridge lines as we made our skin track. North aspects had 40-60cm of dry storm Snow. South aspects seemed to have settled quite a bit already but were still reactive to us and collapsing while traveling.
CT 8 @33cm, ECTP18 @40cm
N, 9060’, HS 85.
Persistent layer failed on many tests in different aspects and elevations. Wind crust was found in some north aspects that was also reactive and failed on some tests. The snowpack layers do not appear to be bonding well, both from the storm slab and the old snow below.
We created a plan before going out, based on SAC info, avy forecast and observations and what we found while out reinforced our decision to be conservative and stick to our plan and travel routes. We made sure to travel where we would not be effecting steep slopes above us or around us.

Media

Public Field Report: Galena summit
Public Field Report: Galena summit

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Persistent Slab
Comments: 
Slab was reactive to skinning. We had widespread collapsing as we traveled through terrain.
ECT showed a wind crust at ~33cm down and 4F+ over facets @ 40cm down.
ECTP 8 at the wind crust and ECTP 18 at the P slab.