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Welcome to the Wallowa Avalanche Center Field Observers Page.
If you wish to become a field observer for our Center there are some minimum requirements that must be met. If anything you see below in discussion or notebooks/diagrams which are completely foreign to you, we suggest signing up for a Level 1 Avalanche Certification course. See our education page for course locations and dates available. Our field observers must have a Level 2 Avalanche Certification and there are other requirements as well. You may contact Ken Bronec our Observer Network Leader at observers@wallowaavalanchecenter.org for additional information.
To WAC Observers:
The following information is simply here for you as a reference or reminder of the items and formats of recording we discussed at this years Observers Meeting.
Background:
This was an end of season study pit to observe the final layering at the point of isothermal conditions. The extent of the search for a representative location would not normally be done nor would one always dig to ground. This was for research purposes. However reasonable diligence in selecting a representative location with spatial and temporal variability in mind is necessary. Always remember a couple or three quick pits for layering/weakness information is better than a whole lot of time on one pit. Our normal expectations for a stability observation would be 1 meter deep unless prior knowledge suggests deep slab instabilities or other indicators as we discussed.
Picture 1: 200' probe sampling across the slope of interest to determine max/min depths.
Picture 2: Result of the location of the average and representative choice of pit relative to the 200' sampling.
Picture 3: Entire snow-pack to ground. Pencil in wall marks the problematic layer at 160cm.
Picture 4: Waterproof field notebook recording of the event.
Picture 5: Snowpilot diagram transcribed from the field notebook.
Figure 1: Snow crystal symbols used in snow pilot.
For maximum accuracy, if the Snowpilot diagram is done immediately upon return from the field, details that are missing in this field notebook example could be placed on the diagram from memory or recorded into the field book when more appropriate. WAC understands that at times the environmental conditions out there makes it difficult to write down every little detail.
Get the important stuff written down while in the field.
Bonus Question!
Can you find the error in the crystal symbol on the snow profile diagrams? Extra credit if you find it and provide the explanation.
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