We traveled in middle elevation terrain and did not observe any significant avalanche issues. In this area, I would expect wind slabs in upper elevations and wet loose issues at lower elevations. The snow was moist to wet on many slopes where we traveled, but no major stability concerns. Biggest issues were suction cup skiing and glop while skinning.
Precip was rain to about 8000' on both sides of the pass early this morning. Not much precip on the Wood River side of the pass, and steady rain on the Stanley side. Rain line appeared to be well over 8000' at times in the Sawtooths. Precip had ended for the most part by 2 PM. Winds were light-W, but I could hear stronger winds at upper elevations (at least moderate at times).
# | Date | Location | Size | Type | Bed Sfc | Depth | Trigger | Comments | Photo |
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None |
See additional observations for Sawtooths and Wood River Valley Mtns for avalanche observations.
Surface snow/newer snow was wet below about 8700', dry above 9100', and moist/damp in between. Wind drifted areas wanted to fail on an interface within the "newer" snow from the past week and at the top of the facet stack on E-NE aspects, but it wasn't that reactive: needs more load/slab than where we traveled. Crusts were holding together on SW-S-SE aspects, with wet snow above them.
9400' E aspect: 4-7cm DF above ~30-40cm of FC>>FC/mixed forms. CT mod and hard about 30cm down (tests performed by Pro2 class students, appeared to fail on a January layer within upper snowpack FC's - not sure but guessing 1/20 or 1/31?).
Avoid wind-loaded starting zones in large, consequential paths (didn't go near any). Avoid very steep terrain as wet loose conditions dictated (this was not an issue where we traveled). No overhead wet loose hazard in this area, but that would have been an issue in some terrain.