Public Observation
Observation Details
Observation Date:
February 17, 2022Submitted:
February 17, 2022Zone or Region:
Activity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Gash/SweathouseTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
7500Aspect:
NEComments:
I easily triggered a wind slab into one of the Sweathouse Creek gullies. It did not run very far because it got hung up in some trees on a bench. I imagine avalanches would run a far distance and entrain a lot of snow in continuously steep terrain.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
NoObservations
Easily triggered wind slabs today in steeper terrain. We could have easily triggered many more avalanches, but the winds were so fierce that our avalanche hunting was cut short.
Travel was from 4800' to 8000.' Winds were strong out of the NW. The foot or so of light density powder quickly became wind affected. It was disheartening to watch the powder turn into wind-affected garbage. Skiing and riding conditions were marginal at best today. All slopes above 6000ish' were wind affected. I would not recommend skiing or riding in the Bitterroot until it snows again!