Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 9, 2022
Submitted:
March 9, 2022
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Smiley creek drainage

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
8,000
Aspect:
SE
Comments:
Wet slide(s) observed around 8,000 ft below rocky chutes

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

We found wind slabs on a north facing, steep, exposed ridge line at around 9,000 ft as well as some shooting cracks along some areas of the ridge. While traveling we saw a few wet slides below us at around 8,000 that seem to have released from some rocky chutes in the past few days on S, SE aspects. We stuck to our plan and skinned to a flat area around 9400’ then climbed up to the summit. We booted back down and then skied the ridge line back down to safer NW facing slopes that had 3-5” of new snow on crust.

Media

Sensitive wind drifts in the Smiley Ck drainage.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
9,000 ft , N aspect . Small, isolated wind slabs on ridge line. Easy to trigger but did not propagate or travel. About 12” deep .