Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 17, 2021
Submitted:
March 17, 2021
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos (off duty), Gall
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Galena Peak (7,300-11,100, E-SE-S-SW-W)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud cover increasing in the morning hours. 80% cloud cover in the mountains (Boulders, Pioneers, Smokys, Sawtooths) by 11, valleys were still getting plenty of sun. Consistent winds at upper end of light blowing out of the SE-S-SW.

Avalanche Observations

Saw a single D1 on S facing slope that had gouged down to near ground. Difficult to assign timing, could have been from last few days?

Snowpack Observations

Surfaces started to soften, providing good corn on E/SE-S by the late morning. Combination of cloud cover and light wind started to refreeze surfaces at upper elevations around noon. I was out of the field by 1330, but suspect we didn't develop wet problems at upper today, and probably not in a lot of middle elevation terrain either. In the terrain I traveled through, today seemed like it put a pause on the building wet snow problems that were developing.