Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 1, 2022
Submitted:
February 1, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis, VandenBos
Zone or Region:
Banner Summit
Location:
Copper Mountain (All aspects, 6,600-8,800')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
No obvious signs of instability.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Good
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

The recent 3-6" of snow buried facets and surface hoar. We found wind stiffened surface snow but did not observe cracking or fresh, sensitive wind slabs.

I'd continue to look for fresh, thin, wind slabs over these weak layers in this area.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
Inverted
Wind:
Light , W
New/Recent Snowfall:
HST = 10-20 cm

Clouds quickly built by mid-morning. Overcast skies with some very light snow showers (minimal accumulation) by early afternoon. Inverted temperatures that were below 0 F at the truck and felt to be in the low 20s F higher up.

On the drive home, skies were overcast until Galena Summit, then some breaks of blue until the SNRA and mostly clear south to the south.

Snowpack Observations

Our main objectives were to look for fresh wind slabs and to take a look at the weak surfaces we just buried.

Monday's snowfall and some wind created thin, isolated soft drifts in wind-exposed middle elevation terrain. We did not find any sensitive slabs or observe any cracking. Higher up, the low-density snow seemed to be haphazardly scattered rather than drifted.

7,400' SW, Sheltered Slope:
Right-side-up, F to 4F in the upper 80 cm.
(1/31) interface, 5 mm SH, ECTN9 and 3 down 20 cm.
(1/20) interface, FC + crust combo. It looked bad but produced ECTN 29 and 13 down 45 cm.
One other obvious FC layer sat down 50 cm, but produced no results.

7,900' NE, Previously wind affected:
Right-side-up, F to 4F in the upper 80 cm.
(1/31) interface, small FC down 12 cm.
(1/20) interface, FC. ECTN 23 and 25.

Avalanche Problems

No avalanche problems were observed, but I'd continue to look out for small, fresh wind slabs that overlie weak snow surfaces.

Terrain Use

We skied steep slopes steering around large, potentially wind-loaded terrain.