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Missoula Avalanche

Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 2, 2022
Submitted:
February 2, 2022
Observer:
WCMAC - Trask Baughman
Zone or Region:
Central Bitterroots
Location:
North Rim of Mill Creek

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Fair
Confidence in Rating: 
Low
Stability Trend: 
Worsening

Bottom Line

Today we toured from 4000ft to 7600ft on the north rim of Mill Creek. We found widespread poor structure in the snowpack, a breakable crust with weak surgery snow (facets .5mm), 12 inches down (30cm). We observed high spatial variability in the new surface snow throughout the tour. We saw ice crust, deep pillows of snow up to 20inches (50cm), fresh wind lips, hollow-sounding wind-loaded pockets below ridge tops. We did not observe any red flags like shooting cracks, but we had high uncertainty in our observation due to the variability and overall poor structure, so we stuck to slopes less than 30°.

Media

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
3°f to 9°f
Wind:
Strong

Above 6000 ft, we observed strong spiraling gusts of winds forming windblown snow features on all aspects. Winds picked up as the day progressed. By 3 pm, snow transport could be observed from the valley on the significant highpoints in the central Bitterroot.

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