Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 4, 2023
Submitted:
March 4, 2023
Zone or Region:
Mores Creek
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Sunset Mountain

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
7500
Aspect:
NE
Comments:
On our skin up to the top of Sunset Mountain observed a skier triggered avalanche just off the north ridge on a NE 7500' aspect. Looked like it was triggered either this morning or yesterday afternoon and the skier was able to ski out of it. We didn't get close enough to estimate dimensions.

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
No
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Isolated

Observations

Chill tour up to the top of Sunset Mountain. Was lightly snowing with light winds in the morning which died off for an hour or two around 11am. Snow and wind picked back up around noon. SE winds ~15mph along the ridge of Sunset Mountain.

Noticed a crust about 18" down which seemed to be collapsing on our skin up.

We kept our terrain selection under 30 degrees

Media

Skier triggered avalanche on NE 7500' aspect off Sunset Mountain