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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 2, 2022
Submitted:
March 2, 2022
Observer:
WCMAC - Jeff Carty
Zone or Region:
Central Bitterroots
Location:
Lost Horse and Twin lakes

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Worsening

Bottom Line

The snowpack has been thoroughly saturated, and a widespread avalanche cycle took place over Monday and Tuesday. Storm slab and wet slab released on melt freeze crusts buried in the snowpack. Today the hazard felt moderate, there were no rollerballs or loose wet, the snowpack seemed pretty glued together. However the mount of wetness is a red flag and if the warmth continues the snowpack will loose cohesion and further wet slides are possible.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
40º (4ºC) at 7100' at 2:00 pm
Wind:
Light , S

Rain in the morning, tapering off around noon. Overcast skies and good visibility. Warm all day, over 40º at 7100'. Winds light out of the south. No snow available for transport due to saturated snow surface.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Past 24 hours Ohio slide path Lost Horse creek
S 8000'-5800' 		D3 WS I-New/Old Interface 24" (60cm) N-Natural Wet slab that ran almost Full path
Ohio slide path avalanche
2 Past 24 hours Poverty slide path Lost horse
S 7600'-5600' 		D3 WS I-New/Old Interface 24" (60cm) N-Natural Wet slab that ran almost full path
3 Past 48 hours Lost horse creek
S 8000' -6200' 		D3 WS I-New/Old Interface 24" (60cm) N-Natural There is debris from two slides in this path, the lower debris looks like storm slab that likely released before the freezing level rose Monday, the upper debris looks like wet slab that likely released with upper elevation rain tuesday.
4 Past 48 hours Wahoo Pass
SE 7200' 		D2 SS I-New/Old Interface 24" (60cm) N-Natural Bed surface was a melt freeze crust likely formed during warm temps from Feb. 14-18.
Wahoo Pass Avalanches

Many more avalanches observed, just about every spot that could slide in Lost Horse did.

Snowpack Observations

At 7100' the snowpack is saturated 2 feet deep.
Below 6600' the snowpack is saturated to ground.
Below 6000' the snowpack is very wet and losing cohesion.
Evidence of heavy rain at elevations up to 8000'

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