Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 6, 2019
Submitted:
December 6, 2019
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Titus Ridge before 1st bump

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Isolated
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
No

Observations

Ski cut on small NNE test slope produced cracking but not much propagation. Other pit data: 20191206 1520, 9900', 345*NW, HS 57cm, ECTP 16 @33cm down failing on FCxr 1-2mm above K MFcr. The FC layer is thin and hard to identify, especially with so much garbage to look at below it, but will be quite problematic with a load. Slab is 1F above interface, and ski pen only averaged 15cm. Concerned with MFcr bridging DH below, and not allowing the basal layers to start to get squashed.

Media

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Persistent Slab
Comments: 
Problem exists where Oct snow persisted. I dug in 3 locations between 9340 and 9900 on WNW and NW and the 1cm FC layer above the MFcr existed in all locations down 25-35cm