Public Field Report
Observation Details
Observation Date:
March 12, 2022Submitted:
March 12, 2022Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern MtnsActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
GladiatorTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
MiddleAspect:
SComments:
We triggered several small, very slow-moving, wet loose slides while descending the south slopes of Gladiator. The slides ran on a slick crust beneath this week's 3-5" of storm snow. The slides were benign in the terrain we were in but could have been more problematic in steeper terrain where the slides could generate more speed.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Spring was in the air on our tour today, with warm temps and some wet loose activity. The low-density storm snow from earlier this week seemed to be getting properly heated for the first time today - textbook glopping conditions on the skin up. Higher up on the ridge, we saw plenty of evidence of wind transport but did not come across any reactive wind slabs. The wind was blowing hard at the top from the west and still moving a fair bit of snow around in the alpine (small snow-nados). This morning's forecast of small wet loose slides on slick crusts verified on the low-30s south slopes of Gladiator. In the terrain we were in, these were easy to manage but could have be more problematic in steeper terrain.