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Missoula Avalanche

Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 4, 2022
Submitted:
March 4, 2022
Observer:
WCMAC - Trask Baughman
Zone or Region:
Seeley Swan
Location:
Rice Ridge and Morrel Creek in the Seeley area

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Fair
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Improving

Bottom Line

Today we road snowmobiles up Rice Ridge and Morrel Creek in the Seeley area. We were surprised by how little cohesion the snowpack had. For example, I would often punch down to my knees when stepping off the sled, even on the sled track. This led us to stick to simple terrain and avoid large slide paths. We found less evidence of past avalanches from the past week's weather than expected. We did spot slide paths on Matt and Cresent Mountain.

Other observations:
• Glide crack spot near Marshall Mountain
• Free water flowing over and under and through the snowpack below 6000 ft.

Media

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
34f at 930am
Wind:
Calm
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