Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 8, 2020
Submitted:
March 9, 2020
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Activity:
Snowmobiling/Snowbiking
Location:
Pole Creek

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
9500
Aspect:
N
Comments:
Very isolated storm slab from recent snowfall. about 8" thick and 10' square. Triggered by snowmobile high-mark. No photos of release

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Snowmobiled out to ski some chutes @ 10k elevation. Snow turned soft at around 9300'. 4-8 inches of new snow in areas. Found a very small storm slabs form the recent snowfall under the cliffs. Snowpack near top was almost entirely faceted under the recent snow and thin sun crust. Hand pits all above 9300' showed the same layers, 4-8" of new, sun crust, then facets to the ground.

Media

Skied the two couloirs on the right. Great snow in each