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Missoula Avalanche

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 19, 2022
Submitted:
March 21, 2022
Zone or Region:
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Bass Lake

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
Treeline
Aspect:
E
Comments:
Significant roller balls and point releases caused from cliffs heating up and shedding snow. Oddly, these were observed on both south and east facing aspects - sun was limited, but when it came out, activity increased dramatically.

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
No
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Isolated

Observations

Spent the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) out at Bass Lake. Toured on North and East facing slopes. On the tour in, we observed a couple old avelanche crowns on high N aspects, must have been a couple days old at least.

North facing slopes were dry and had good snow Friday and Saturday. Performed a CT on a NE slope around 7500 7feet and got 3 sudden collapses, all very planar (12" 24" and 36"). We scaled back objectives, and stuck to low angle slopes all weekend. Saturday, on E facing aspects, snow was very soft, heavy, and wet even without the sun out. Toured up to 8200 ft on E slopes, found wind slabs starting around 7900, but not reactive, no cracking or wumpfing. Saturday night it snowed 3-5 inches, with significant gusts. Sunday it was very windy all day, and significant snow movement was taking place, with deposits on the North/NE aspects. Toured up to N/NE aspects to 8000, and found significant wind deposits. The wind out at the lake was significant, up to 40mph, and snow was being moved.

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