Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 30, 2023
Submitted:
January 30, 2023
Observer:
SAC - Jon Preuss
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
Titus Ridge (N-NW; 8700-9600')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Bottom Line

Yesterday's skier triggered avalanche near Titus Ridge failed on a layer of buried surface hoar. The slab was 1-2 feet thick across the crown. A couple of natural avalanches occurred in the Sawtooth mountains within the last 48 hours.

Media/Attachments

(1/23/2023) A large avalanche released below a cliff band in the Central Sawtooths on a east facing slope at 9600'.
(1/30/2023) This large avalanche failed on an east facing slope.
The viewpoint looking down at the crown of a skier-triggered slide near Titus Ridge.
This 1-2 foot thick, skier-triggered avalanche failed on a layer of buried surface hoar. Surface hoar is frequently found in shady, partially treed locations like this. N-NE aspect near 9100' in the Salmon River drainage near Galena Summit.
Crown profile of a skier-triggered a slide that failed on a layer of buried surface hoar.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Valley fog was present in morning of the Sawtooths. There were occasional plumes of snow being blown in the alpine.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Jan 29, 2023
(+/- 1 day) 		Cabin Creek
E 9600ft 		D2 SS-Soft Slab N-Natural
(1/23/2023) A large avalanche released below a cliff band in the Central Sawtooths on a east facing slope at 9600'.
Report
1 Jan 29, 2023 3:01 pm
(Exact) 		"Timber Bowl" near Titus Ridge
NW 9100ft 		D1 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow 1ft AS-Skier
u-Unintentional
Crown profile of a skier-triggered a slide that failed on a layer of buried surface hoar.
This 1-2 foot thick, skier-triggered avalanche failed on a layer of buried surface hoar. Surface hoar is frequently found in shady, partially treed locations like this. N-NE aspect near 9100' in the Salmon River drainage near Galena Summit.
The viewpoint looking down at the crown of a skier-triggered slide near Titus Ridge.
Report
Cabin Creek
"Timber Bowl" near Titus Ridge

Snowpack Observations

The slide on Timber Bowl failed on a layer of buried surface hoar (4-6mm). The layer didn't appear to be standing too proud but likely needed a steeper slope to fail. The slab was fist to 4 finger hard and 1-2 thick across the crown. The bed surface was a dense layer of rounded snow.

Avalanche Problems

At first glance, the chute where the avalanche occurred looks sheltered from the wind. A denser band of trees stands along the top of the ridgeline, and the sides of the feature have sparse trees. This is a good area for surface hoar to grow. However, the ridgeline showed signs of previous winds channeling uphill through the trees. This slope may have received some cross-loading from northeast winds, which would verify why the slab thickness varies from one side to side.