Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 27, 2021
Submitted:
March 27, 2021
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Third peak & north Smokey

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
8400
Aspect:
E
Comments:
R1d1 I knew the slope I was about to ski was prime to slide gave it a good ski cut and skied on the avalanche path

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

I went to to ski third peak and north Smokey both skied very different but both were great.I woke up early to ski the NE aspect of third peak and was rewarded with dry and fun powder skiing I did experience some whumps on upper elevation SE wind loaded slopes but no cracks or slides. I then went to ski north Smokey I wanted to ski a couloir but didn’t summit till 1 and was experiencing some small slides while climbing up and stuck to mellower terrain skiing was really fun corn skiing on a E aspect. I found a steep face (38degree) at lower elevation with good run out and went to test it with a ski cut and I got a good 1-3” wet loose slab to release and run, then skied on the avalanche path.

Media

Public Field Report: Third peak & north Smokey
Public Field Report: Third peak & north Smokey