Close
Missoula Avalanche

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 29, 2022
Submitted:
November 29, 2022
Zone or Region:
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Heart Lake Zone

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Widespread
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Widespread

Observations

Skied into the Heart Lake zone today, stayed below the Heart Lake headwall. 1' of new snow since Thanksgiving's warm spell. Dug a pit on the face we skied, E 6000'. Recorded and ECTP5, ~40cm down. Failed on the lower of two prominent crusts, one that was likely from last week's warmup and the lower from perhaps a rain event earlier in the month. Failure propagated fairly cleanly across the column. We also experienced whumpfing and shooting cracks, one instance with cracks shooting up and across slope ~15'. Spooky--no signs of recent avalanche activity on any slopes within eyesight. We skied conservatively in <30* terrain for some mellow pow laps.

Media

Close