Ketchum to Stanley

Due to the recent loading event and generally poor visibility during and after the most recent pulse of the storm, my main objectives were to (1) document any avalanche activity, (2) observe the weather impacting over a broad geographic area throughout multiple zones and (3) view wind effect both past and present. While visibility was generally significantly better this day than in the past 3-4 days, the lighting due to the high cloud cover and flat light made noting specific characteristics of slides more challenging. However, I was able to observe several large and many small avalanches despite conditions. 

Wind effect was most evident in alpine terrain in the Boulder Mountains as one would expect, with windward sides of ridges (S/SW) stripped down to have rock visible and leeward sides of ridges loaded heavily. With brief periods of good lighting, these loaded areas appeared to be a mix between soft deposits and more firm, textured snow. There were a 2 very small (D1) crowns just adjacent to ridgeline that appeared to be shallower wind slabs in the Boulders. Wind effect in the mountains in the Smokys and S. Sawtooths (Headwaters through Beaver) and the very small portion of the White Clouds visible from the road (David O'Lee, Blackman, etc.) had obviously sculpted ridgelines and mid-face features in the alpine, but no crowns were visible with the lighting. The Sawtooths north of Alturas were obscured due to cloud cover.