Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 26, 2020
Submitted:
March 27, 2020
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Imogene Peak

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

Snow below 8000' was generally warm and consolidated. Snow above 8000' was cold and light. We observed between 6-10" of new snow sitting on top of a hard melt freeze crust. We traveled cautiously through exposed terrain, and one of our group members did cause a collapse and observed small cracks while skinning over wind slab. We skied a West slope off Imogene cautiously and one at a time giving the wind slab at the top a wide berth.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
Wind slab was isolated to ridge lines and exposed slopes and consisted of new snow that fell over the last few days. Likelihood of triggering seemed fairly high if it is not avoided or traveled through with caution.