Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 6, 2022
Submitted:
January 6, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Scott Savage
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
driving Smiley Ck to Ketchum after a field day (roadside glassing and observations Smoky and Boulder Mtns from HWY75)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Cracking and collapsing for this observation are N/A. See previous Smiley Creek observation for field data.

Bottom Line

I saw a couple of small to medium-sized avalanches: near Titus Ridge and in alpine terrain in the southern Boulder Mtns.
Dramatic differences in snowfall and wind from western Smoky Mtns to Ketchum:
Smiley Ck=2-3 feet of new snow past few days and little evidence of wind at middle+lower elevations
Galena Summit area=less but still a fair amount of storm snow with small sluffs in steep terrain, slab avalanche observed in Titus Ridge area (photo below), obvious middle elevation wind effects
Owl Creek to Ketchum=decrease in new snow as you go south, pronounced middle and lower elevation cross-loaded slopes (see photo below), alpine terrain in Boulder Mtns was raked by high winds (one avalanche, photo below), some rollerballs from heat/muted sunshine on steep SW and W aspects along road in the Boulder Mtns from Owl Ck to Hulen Meadows

Media/Attachments

Cross-loading and dunes caused by recent strong winds in exposed middle elevation terrain in the Boulder Mtns.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Cloudy
Temperature:
Either side of 0C/32F
Wind:
Light
New/Recent Snowfall:
HST (storm snow) ranged from 6-12 inches near Ketchum to around 3 feet at 8000' in the Smiley Creek drainage..

It was snowing S1-3 (~1 inch/hour) today in Smiley Creek...flurries/light snow showers and OVC on Galena Summit at 1600hrs...OVC around Galena Lodge...PC by Ketchum. Plenty of snow available for transport, especially as you go north and west in the Smoky Mtns.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Jan 6, 2022
(+/- 1 day) 		Titus Ridge area
N 9300ft 		D1.5 SS-Soft Slab 2ft N-Natural
This soft slab avalanche near Titus Ridge likely released naturally during the current storm. N aspect near 9300'.
Report
Titus Ridge area
 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Boulder Mtns: near Silver and Boulder Peaks
E alpine 		D1.5 U U-Unknown I could only see the debris pile, unsure of timing and any details on this slide.
Debris pile from a recent slab avalanche in the Boulder Mtns near Silver and Boulder Peaks. East aspect in alpine terrain.

Snowpack Observations

Only roadside observations - no direct snowpack data.

Avalanche Problems

No large persistent or deep persistent slides were observed, but visibility limited the terrain I could see. I had decent visibility and did not see significant natural activity in the Boulder Mtns south of Cerro Ciento, on the east face of Saviers Peak in Owl Creek, or in Smoky Mtns terrain visible from the HWY south of Owl Creek (W Fork Prairie, Prairie, Anderson, Norton, Newman Cks). Based on very limited observations, the natural activity appeared to be a mixture of wind slab and storm slab problems.

Terrain Use

N/A