Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 31, 2021
Submitted:
January 31, 2021
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Activity:
Snowmobiling/Snowbiking
Location:
Beaver creek drainage

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 3: Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees
Elevation:
9000
Aspect:
SW
Comments:
Remote triggered from gentler terrain at the base of the ridge about 100 feet east of the slide. Crown looked to be up to 3 feet thick in areas and about 75’ wide. Avalanche probably ran close to 200’. It released in steeper rocky terrain. Debris pile was probably 5 plus feet deep and snapped a 12” dead tree on the way down. Nobody was caught.

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Lots of new snow and wind. Many slides on multiple aspects but primarily in steep upper elevation terrain

Media

Public Field Report: Beaver creek drainage
Debris from an avalanche that was remotely triggered in the Beaver Creek drainage on Sunday. The crown is up to 3 feet thick and the slide was triggered from 100 feet away.