Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Occurrence

View Associated Field Report

General Information

A small, likely skier-triggered avalanche near Galena Pass. Two sets of ski tracks were observed near the crown. The avalanche released on a thin layer of facets sitting atop a crust. NE aspect at 8,800'.

Observer:
SAC Forecaster

Verified by SAC?
Yes

Occurrence Date:
Jan 11, 2023 (+/- 1 day)

Location:
Governors Punch Bowl

Comments:

Two ski tracks lead into the crown. It was potentially triggered by one of the skiers, whose tracks exited at the bottom left side (looking up at the avalanche) of the bed surface. There were no visible tracks on the bed surface. The second set of ski tracks cut down across the crown then exit skier's right.

Avalanche Characteristics

# of Avys:
2
Aspect:
NE
Start Zone Elev:
8800ft
Size:
D1
Type:
SS-Soft Slab
Trigger:
AS-Skier
Bed Surface:
I-New/Old Interface
Depth:
1.5ft
Start Zone Slope:
38°
Comments:

Avalanche failed on a thin layer of facets above a crust. Slab's hardness was fist to 4 fingers. It is possible that the same party remote triggered the other avalanche (D2) which broke near a rock band at

Media

A small, likely skier-triggered avalanche near Galena Pass. Two sets of ski tracks were observed near the crown. The avalanche released on a thin layer of facets sitting atop a crust. NE aspect at 8,800'.
Potentially skier triggered avalanche on the left side. The party possibly remote triggered the avalanche on the right. Based on the crown depths, both seemed to have failed on the same weak layer.
Crown profile of the potentially skier triggered avalanche near Governors Punch Bowl. The slab was 1.5 feet thick and failed on a thin layer of facets above a crust.
Possible remote triggered avalanche by adjacent ski party. Avalanche debris was deep enough to bury a person.