Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 18, 2022
Submitted:
February 18, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Chris Lundy
Zone or Region:
Banner Summit
Location:
Beaver Creek (north) (Primary obs from 7100-8800', S-E-N)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Good
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

I found stable conditions with no signs of instability. It did not get warm enough for wet loose problems, and I did not observe any wind slabs. As expected, surfaces are a mixed bag with the weakest snow to be found on shaded aspects (E-N-W).

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Wind:
Light , NW
New/Recent Snowfall:
5-7cm of HST from the 2/14 storm.

Very pleasant day with mild (but not too warm) temps, light winds, and a few high clouds.

Snowpack Observations

On steep solars, I found a 10-15cm thick crust topped by 2-3cm of moist newer snow. The crust beneath the 2/14 storm snow thins out as you wrap into the shade, but I still found a thin zipper crust on N up to around 8500'. On shaded aspects, the newer snow is slightly faceted and the older snow beneath the thin temp crust is very faceted. On upper elevations, the temp crust goes away on NE-N(-NW?) but is replaced by a mixed bag of facets, wind-affected snow, and old wind slab. In a few areas, there is a thin layer of surface facets sitting atop old hard slab. If Sunday night's storm creates wind slab atop shadier slopes, they are likely to be reactive. Wind slabs that form on solars will probably bond better.

Avalanche Problems

No problems observed.

Terrain Use

I didn't have any terrain closed in the AM plan. Conditions felt "open season"