Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 8, 2022
Submitted:
January 8, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Chris Lundy
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Location:
Glassing from Stanley to Galena Overlook

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Cracking/collapsing N/A - I was roadside.

Bottom Line

Glassed from Stanley to the Galena Overlook, so primarily viewing the Sawtooths and the drainages behind Smiley Creek. I was able to look up Pole Cr somewhat, but the Smoky Crest (Titus - Saviers) was obscured by a cloud.

I saw evidence of a storm-related avalanche cycle in the Sawtooths and the Western Smokys near Smiley Cr. I did not observe any deep persistent slab avalanches breaking on older weak layers.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy

It was mostly cloudy this morning in Stanley, but the clouds dissipated mid-morning and skies were partly cloudy. Looking from Stanley, there appeared to be more clouds towards Banner Summit, even midday.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Jan 7, 2022
(+/- 1 day) 		The "Spoon" above Twin/Pole Creeks
SW 10000ft 		D2 SS-Soft Slab I-New/Old Interface N-Natural
Avalanche that ran near the end of the storm behind Horton Peak in the Pole Creek drainage. Slab appears to have failed at the old/new interface, or possibly on layers that formed in December. 10,000', SW.
Peak 10,166_Skylar_Herbert
Peak 10,166_Tanner_Haskins
Report
1 Jan 7, 2022
(+/- 1 day) 		Above Marshall Lake (Pokey Chute)
E 8700ft 		D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
This storm slab avalanche ran in mid-elevation terrain above Marshall Lake near the end of the recent storm. Northern Sawtooths, 8700', E.
Report
1 Jan 6, 2022
(+/- 3 days) 		Meadow Bowl
N 9200ft 		D2 N-Natural
Report
5 Jan 6, 2022
(+/- 3 days) 		McDonald Peak
E 9700ft 		D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
Evidence of multiple avalanches on McDonald Peak that ran at different points during the storm. The most recent ones are in the upper right of the photo. These avalanches likely involved new and windblown snow. 9700', E.
Report
1 Jan 6, 2022
(+/- 1 day) 		Goat/Iron Cr divide
E 9300ft 		D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
Avalanche in the northern Sawtooths that released near the end of the storm. It looks to have involved the storm snow, and the slope was likely loaded by wind and spindrift spilling down cliffs.
Report
1 Jan 6, 2022
(+/- 3 days) 		Imogene Peak
E 9900ft 		D2.5 N-Natural
Report
1 Jan 6, 2022
(+/- 1 day) 		North of Imogene Peak
NE 9400ft 		D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
Report
1 Jan 6, 2022
(+/- 3 days) 		Eureka Peak
E 10000ft 		D2 S-New Snow N-Natural
Report
1 Jan 7, 2022
(+/- 1 day) 		Cabin Creek
SE 9400ft 		D1.5 S-New Snow N-Natural
This wind slab avalanche in the southern Sawtooths released near the end of the storm. 9400', SE.
Report
The "Spoon" above Twin/Pole Creeks
Above Marshall Lake (Pokey Chute)
Meadow Bowl
McDonald Peak
Goat/Iron Cr divide
Imogene Peak
North of Imogene Peak
Eureka Peak
Cabin Creek

There was evidence of a storm-related avalanche cycle in the Sawtooths and the Western Smokys near Smiley Cr. I saw more avalanches in the Sawtooths, but that may be because I had a better view of them or possibly the steeper terrain was more conducive.

Most avalanches ran early or mid-storm, as evidenced by barely visible crowns and debris. There were a handful of fresher slides that ran towards the end of the storm. The details on most slides are obscured by storm snow, but none appeared to break very deep and they generally appeared to be failing within the storm snow or at the old/new (1/3) interface.

I did not observe any slides that broke on 12/11. There did not appear to be avalanches (with the possible exception of the Pole Cr slide) that broke on the 12/19-21 layers, although this is less certain.