Public Field Report
Observation Details
Observation Date:
December 3, 2022Submitted:
December 4, 2022Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern MtnsActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Galena summitObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
Mid elevation road cutsAspect:
SComments:
Many small releases from snow plows on the highwaySigns of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, WidespreadDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, WidespreadObservations
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
Advanced Observations
Observed Avalanche Problem #1:
Persistent SlabComments:
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.