Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 8, 2022
Submitted:
November 10, 2022
Observer:
SAC - VandenBos (off duty), Peterson
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Titus Ridge

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
Isolated
We experienced some small, isolated, muffled collapses while traveling on a wind-loaded ridge. These did not seem to propagate far and did not create visible cracks on the surface of the snow.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Wind:
Light , W

Snowpack Observations

Snow depth varies significantly with changes in aspect and elevation. In general, snowfall since 11/4 has settled to 35-45cm. Where older snow exists underneath, HS=60-90cm.

I dug two pits targeting the 11/4 interface (small facets on top of the October snow underneath), on NE and W/NW aspects around 9,000'. I received mixed results in my stability tests, including an ECTPV (column fails on isolation), ECTP10, ECTN11 and 15. I suspect these mixed results are pointing to the variability in the character of this interface.

Snowpit dug at 9,000' on a NW-facing slope near Galena Summit. In this location, snowpit tests produced unstable results at the interface between remnant older snow and the snow that started to fall on November 4th.

Terrain Use

We avoided wind-loaded avalanche terrain.