Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 24, 2023
Submitted:
February 24, 2023
Observer:
SAC - Scott Savage (OFF DUTY)
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Croy Canyon (5500-6500': most aspects )

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
Isolated
1 collapse on windboard from the last week (not the last 24 hrs) in exposed area, traveled about 4m.

Snow Stability

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

Bottom Line

No fresh wind slabs where we traveled, and the snowpack probably needs a fresh wind load to be unstable at this elevation in Croy Canyon.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
Low 20s F
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
2-4cm HST at 5500', 8-10cm at 6500'.

Winds moved some of the new snow around, but not many new slabs. There is still a decent amount of snow available for transport.

Snowpack Observations

Obs submitted on a phone - sorry in advance about typos.

Surface = .3-.5cm SH from last night/early this morning, fairly widespread.
S-SW = almost corn on a firm, supportable crust

Under the new snow:
NW-N-NE = no solar crusts but variable wind affect at the top of the old snow (sastrugi, wind board, wind slab, wind crusts, some places just FC)
W, E, SE = breakable crusts +FC, stiffer crusts as you move south from west or east

We skied 305* (just W of NW), and it had a tolerable razor crust under the new snow.

Terrain Use

We planned to avoid wind-loaded slopes steeper than 35*. We skied slopes around 35* with no fresh, stiff wind loading.