Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 15, 2022
Submitted:
February 15, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis, Genswein
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Location:
McDonald Area (N-E-S, 7,000-9,800')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
10' long cracks in 15 cm thick wind slab. Isolated to ridge tops lee to Monday evenings S/SW wind.

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

New snowfall did not change the stability here. Some very small wet loose were observed involving the new snow running on crusts.

Media/Attachments

Sun induced loose snow avalanche in the Sawtooths. A handful of these were observed on S and SE facing slopes between 8,300 and 9,600'. All of them initiated in very steep, rocky terrain.
Sun induced loose snow avalanche in the Sawtooths. A handful of these were observed on S and SE facing slopes between 8,300 and 9,600'. All of them initiated in very steep, rocky terrain.
Percolation columns on a SE-facing slopes at 8,800'. We traced a few of these down 70 cm. Snow around them was dry. The columns stopped when the hand hardness of the mid-pack slab increased to around 4F+/1F-.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
20s F
Wind:
Light , N
New/Recent Snowfall:
HST = 3-7 cm

Light N wind with occasional moderate gusts. Mid and low-level clouds hung in the White Clouds and near the Pass but we enjoyed mostly sunny skies.

Snowpack Observations

New snow was moist early in the day. The crusts beneath the new snow on S and SE-facing slopes were stout and capped with a shiny ice layer. On steep N-facing slopes, a temperature crust was observed at 8700'. All crusts regardless of aspect were faceted beneath.

No snow remained wet or moist below the crusts. Well-developed percolation columns were traced down between 40 and 70 cm on a few steeper S and SE-facing slopes. The facets around the perc columns were dry. The meltwater columns ended once the hardness increased to 4F/1F- near the base of the mid-pack slab.

Avalanche Problems

No avalanche problems today.

We did not observe any substantially wind-loaded slopes. We encountered a few small drifts on the N side of exposed ridgelines. The wind here was S and SW during snowfall. It doesn't appear that the subsequent switch to N wind did much. The slabs were no more than 15 cm thick and tapered quickly.

We observed small, sun-induced loose snow dribblers on very steep, rocky, S and SE-facing slopes at middle and upper elevations. There is a nice stout, slick crust for them to run on. It seems like these will remain small for now. It would take a fair bit of heat to break down the crust beneath.

Some heavier facet sluffing is still on the table on shaded upper elevations.

Terrain Use

We skied confined steep terrain.