Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 10, 2023
Submitted:
April 10, 2023
Observer:
SAC - Scott Savage
Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern Mtns
Location:
glassing Hailey-central Sawtooths (many aspects and elevations, but no western aspects in Sawtooth or Smoky Mtns)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Cracking and collapsing were N/A: only roadside observations.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Poor
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 

Bottom Line

The Boulder Mtns produced one of the more impressive 24-hour wet slab avalanche cycles I've seen. It sounds like the Pioneer Mtns were similar. Activity in the Smoky and Sawtooth Mtns was more subdued. Large avalanches were continuing to release naturally while I was out from 3-6:30 PM. Conditions will remain scary until 6-12 hours after the wet surface freezes solidly - it will take some time for the water already in the snowpack to refreeze or drain.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
50s F roadside, even over Galena Summit
Wind:
Light , S
New/Recent Snowfall:
No recent snowfall

It was still 50F at Galena Summit at 5:45PM and 55F in Ketchum at 6:30PM. There is no snow available for transport.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
2 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Hulen Meadows-HWY75
W 6500ft 		D2 WL-Wet Loose O-Old Snow N-Natural
A wet loose slide buried both lanes of HWY 75 just north of Ketchum Monday afternoon. W aspect near 6500'. Photo: Sara Lundy.
Report
2 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		W Fork Boulder Ck
SW 10600ft 		D3 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 4ft N-Natural
Two very large wet slab avalanches on W-SW aspects near 10600' in the W Fork of Boulder Ck drainage.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Gladiator Ck
W 9800ft 		D2.5 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 4ft N-Natural
Large wet slab avalanche in Gladiator Ck, SW-W-SW aspect near 9800'.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(+/- 1 day) 		Gladiator Ck
SW 10000ft 		D2.5 WL-Wet Loose O-Old Snow N-Natural
Large wet loose avalanche in the Gladiator Ck drainage. W-SW-S aspects near 10000'.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		E Fork Gladiator Ck
S 9900ft 		D3 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow N-Natural
Very large wet slab avalanche in the E Fork of Gladiator Ck. S aspect near 9900'.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Cherry Ck
SW 10400ft 		D3.5 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 4ft N-Natural
Very large wet slab avalanche in the Cherry Ck drainage, SW-W aspects near 10400'. The crown is over 2000' wide.
Report
2 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Senate Ck
SW 10100ft 		D3 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 4ft N-Natural
Two very large (1000' wide, 4 feet thick) wet slab avalanches on S-SW aspects near 10,100' in the Senate Ck drainage just northwest of Galena Peak.
Large crowns of wet slab avalanches in the Senate Ck drainage.
(4/15/23)
(4/15/23)
Report
3 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Abes Armchair - Smiley Ck
E 9300ft 		D2.5 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 4ft N-Natural
3 large natural wet slab avalanches near 9300' on E-SE aspects on Abe's Armchair, Smiley Ck drainage.
Report
10 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Pole Ck
SW 10000ft 		D2 WL-Wet Loose O-Old Snow N-Natural
Many natural wet loose avalanches in the Pole Ck drainage. W-SW aspects near 10,000'.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Grand Prize - Pole Ck
SW 9900ft 		D3 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 3ft N-Natural
Natural wet slab avalanche on SW-S aspects near 9900' in the Grand Prize drainage of Pole Ck.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Easley Peak
SE 10700ft 		D3 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 5ft N-Natural
Wet slab avalanche on Easley Peak. The crown is about 500' wide and 5 feet tall.
Wet slab avalanche debris from a very large slide on Easley Peak.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Silver Ck and Peak- Boulder Mtns
SW 10800ft 		D4 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 6ft N-Natural
Very large natural wet slab avalanche on Silver Peak in the Silver Ck drainage, Boulder Mtns. SW-W aspect near 10,8000'. This crown is about 2000' wide and 6 feet tall.
Report
10 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Boulder Peak
SE 9800ft 		D2 WL-Wet Loose O-Old Snow N-Natural
Many natural wet loose avalanches released on Boulder Peak. S-SE-E aspects in alpine terrain.
Report
1 Apr 10, 2023
(+/- 1 day) 		Lorenzo Peak - Silver Ck
E 11000ft 		D2.5 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 3ft N-Natural
Large wet slab avalanche on Lorenzo Peak in the Silver Ck drainage, E aspect at 11,000'.
Report
2 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Griffin Butte-Hulen Meadows
E 7000ft 		D2 WL-Wet Loose O-Old Snow 2ft N-Natural
Natural wet loose avalanches near Griffin Butte north of Ketchum. E-SE aspects near 7000'.
Report
3 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Carbonate Mtn
NE 6200ft 		D2 WL-Wet Loose O-Old Snow N-Natural
Natural wet avalanches on Carbonate Mtn, 6200' NE.
Report
2 Apr 10, 2023
(Exact) 		Carbonate Mtn
NE 6200ft 		D2 WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 2ft N-Natural
Natural wet slab avalanches on Carbonate Mtn, 6200' NE.
Report
Hulen Meadows-HWY75
W Fork Boulder Ck
Gladiator Ck
Gladiator Ck
E Fork Gladiator Ck
Cherry Ck
Senate Ck
Abes Armchair - Smiley Ck
Pole Ck
Grand Prize - Pole Ck
Easley Peak
Silver Ck and Peak- Boulder Mtns
Boulder Peak
Lorenzo Peak - Silver Ck
Griffin Butte-Hulen Meadows
Carbonate Mtn
Carbonate Mtn

I only recorded the wet slab avalanches and the areas with 10 or more D2 wet loose slides in a small area. I saw countless additional D1-1.5 wet loose avalanches (estimated 100-200?).

Snowpack Observations

No first-hand observations other than a wet, mostly unsupportable snowpack in roadside locations.