Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 30, 2021
Submitted:
January 31, 2021
Observer:
SAC - Scott Savage
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Hailey-Ketchum: driving and glassing observations (Many, roadside)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
No snow observations, strictly glassing from roads.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Poor
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 

Bottom Line

I observed many large avalanches that released at the tail end of the storm and signs of many others that released during the storm (blown in crowns and debris piles). I saw a few fresh elk-triggered avalanches that happened last night or this morning (were not there yesterday at 5 PM) on the west side of the highway just north of Greenhorn/Timber Gulch in the Comstock Ditch. It looks like the elk were unscathed. I'm pretty sure the point release on the side of the road near Lake Creek happened between 1-4:30 PM today (Saturday).

Media/Attachments

Avalanche on Patterson Peak near Hailey. NW-N aspect near 7500'.
Avalanches near 5800' on NE aspects on Della Mtn near Hailey.
Mid-storm and fresh avalanches in Croy Canyon near the Bullion-Democrat divide, E-SE aspects. Note the interesting wind-loading patterns.
Avalanches on E-NE aspects in the Deer Ck drainage. Note the interesting patterns of wind loading.
Slab avalanches on NW aspects near 7500' in the Ohio Gulch drainage (Mount Fuji).
Two fresh elk triggered slides (one remotely) with other slides from Thursday or Friday in the background. E aspects just above the highway, Comstock Ditch just north of Greenhorn.
Point release the entrained most of the snowpack on it's way down, released during the day on Saturday. W aspect on HWY 75 near Lake Creek just north of Ketchum.
Multiple slab avalanches in the Warm Springs Creek drainage west of Ketchum, near Allen Mtn ("Big Mamma"). E aspects.

Advanced Information

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
2 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Lake Creek
W 8800ft 		D2 N-Natural
Avalanches on W-SE aspects near 8800' in the Lake Ck drainage.
Report
10 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		E Fork Big Wood River - Mine Bender
NW 8400ft 		D2 N-Natural
Three of the ten slides I saw in the Mine Bender area of the E Fork of the Big Wood River. Mostly W-NW aspects from 7700-8400'.
Report
1 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Warm Springs Ck - Allen Mtn (Big Mama)
E 7700ft 		D2 N-Natural
Multiple slab avalanches in the Warm Springs Creek drainage west of Ketchum, near Allen Mtn ("Big Mamma"). E aspects.
Report
2 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Warm Springs - Allen Mtn (Big Mama)
E 7600ft 		D2 N-Natural
Multiple slab avalanches in the Warm Springs Creek drainage west of Ketchum, near Allen Mtn ("Big Mamma"). E aspects.
Report
1 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Lookout Mtn - Bellevue
NW 7350ft 		D2 N-Natural
Natural slab avalanche on Lookout Mtn near Bellevue (NW 7350').
Report
3 Jan 30, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Big Wood River - Comstock Ditch/Timber Gulch area
E 6100ft 		D2 AW-Wildlife
u-Unintentional
Two fresh elk triggered slides (one remotely) with other slides from Thursday or Friday in the background. E aspects just above the highway, Comstock Ditch just north of Greenhorn.
Report
2 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Ohio Gulch - upper end of drainage, Mt Fuji is common name
NW 7400ft 		D2 N-Natural Report
3 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Deer Creek
NE 7000ft 		D2 N-Natural
Avalanches on E-NE aspects in the Deer Ck drainage. Note the interesting patterns of wind loading.
Report
2 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Carbonate Mtn - Big Wood River
E 6100ft 		D2 N-Natural Report
7 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Croy Canyon - Democrat and Bullion
E 7400ft 		D2 N-Natural
Mid-storm and fresh avalanches in Croy Canyon near the Bullion-Democrat divide, E-SE aspects. Note the interesting wind-loading patterns.
Report
2 Jan 29, 2021
(+/- 1 day) 		Della Mtn - Big Wood River
E 5800ft 		D2 N-Natural
Avalanches near 5800' on NE aspects on Della Mtn near Hailey.
Report
Lake Creek
E Fork Big Wood River - Mine Bender
Warm Springs Ck - Allen Mtn (Big Mama)
Warm Springs - Allen Mtn (Big Mama)
Lookout Mtn - Bellevue
Big Wood River - Comstock Ditch/Timber Gulch area
Ohio Gulch - upper end of drainage, Mt Fuji is common name
Deer Creek
Carbonate Mtn - Big Wood River
Croy Canyon - Democrat and Bullion
Della Mtn - Big Wood River