Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Public Field Report

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 13, 2019
Submitted:
December 16, 2019
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Activity:
Snowmobiling/Snowbiking
Location:
Soldiers - Miller Ridge

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
8000'
Aspect:
SE
Comments:
Headwaters of Miller Creek. Triggered remotely from about 80' above the crown. Snow was wind drifted where it slid, but the slab wasn't very hard. Crown was about 14" deep. Cracks extended at least 50' to the sides of the crown, and the slope had a lot of cracking lower on it too. The slide was between a D1 and D2 (big enough to bury or injure someone).
Photo:

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Good, but thin, early season riding conditions. This was the only slide we triggered or saw that day. We were avoiding avalanche terrain for the most part. There was obvious wind loading near the higher exposed ridges (cornices, harder slabs).