Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
May 1, 2022
Submitted:
May 1, 2022
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Timber bowl

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
Middle
Aspect:
NE
Comments:
Over 33 degrees of slope angle, got 6 inch releases. Dry snow early running with velocity. Able to entrain large area quickly. Ski cut a small steep chute. Crack propagated across to second starting zone, remotely triggering...

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

Lower angle dust on crust seemed to be best, great condition s for teaching ski cuts. No slab deposits except on top of ridge ie low angle to no angle. Stayed out from under larger slopes that were hanging in the balance. Previously frequented ski slopes were nonreactive.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Dry Loose
Comments: 
Timber bowl, Titus Ridge, size small to large, likelihood high at 35+ degrees. 6 inches new plus 1 inch of loose interface over the crust
Observed Avalanche Problem #2: 
Wet Loose
Comments: 
By 10:30, on runout to top of pass, already able to get small wet slides going. Glad we were out EARLY.