Public Field Report
Observation Details
Observation Date:
May 6, 2023Submitted:
May 8, 2023Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern MtnsActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Galena PeakTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
UpperAspect:
WComments:
We triggered shallow wet loose avalanches at the new-old interface. These ran 50ft at most.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
We found no hard refreeze, even at 11,000ft, and wet snow throughout all aspects and elevations we toured. However, at mid and upper elevations we still found supportable (if sloppy) conditions.
We triggered small, shallow loose wet slides of new saturated snow when skiing slopes around 40°. Though shallow and slow-moving, and manageable in the terrain we chose, these shallow slides were comprised of very heavy, pushy snow and would be of concern in no-fall zones. While we only saw movement at the new-old interface, with sufficient mass it seems possible for these shallow slides of new snow to gouge into old snow that has not refrozen well or at all in recent days.
Many cornices have already fallen, but some large, potentially dangerous cornices remain.