Professional Observation
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
December 27, 2021Submitted:
December 27, 2021Observer:
WCMAC - Trask BaughmanZone or Region:
Central BitterrootsLocation:
GashSigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
YesCracking?
IsolatedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
FairConfidence in Rating:
ModerateStability Trend:
SteadyBottom Line
Today we toured up “Mini Gash.” We dug along the ridge in several locations, general finding no significant instabilities. We did find a thin layer of near-surface facets producing clean planar breaks, 6inches (16cm) to 12 inches (32cm) down.
We triggered a soft slab on a slope 35 to 40 degrees steep through open trees on the descent. The crown was 6 inches in depth and 30 feet wide. The slide was of relatively low consequence, but the destructive size will quickly grow with additional loading from wind or snow. We suspect near-surface facets to be the weak layer in this avalanche.
Media
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
OvercastTemperature:
13 to 16 fahrenheit at the traileheadWind:
CalmAvalanche Observations
| # | Date | Location | Size | Type | Bed Sfc | Depth | Trigger | Comments | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Today |
Steep trees below Gash NE 7800 |
D1 | SS | S-New Snow | 6 inches |
AR-Snowboarder c-Intentional |
None |
Avalanche Problems
| Problem | Location | Distribution | Sensitivity | Size | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Persistent Slab
|
|
Layer Depth/Date: 6 to 12 inches down (16 to 32cm) |