Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 13, 2020
Submitted:
January 14, 2020
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Dollar Mountain: Bitterroot Bowl

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

ridge line was blow and thin snowpack, rocks showing. N face of bowl was loaded.

Media

Wind slab cracks
photo from 1.14 (next day)

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
Natural breaking of slab about 20m x 20m. Slab broke about 30cm deep, but did not run. Slab was on N aspect just below ridgeline, <25 degree slope. evidence of loading from S wind.