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Missoula Avalanche

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 4, 2022
Submitted:
December 4, 2022
Zone or Region:
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Might have been G-spot

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
5800
Aspect:
E
Comments:
Made a short turn on top of an unsupported pillow feature and broke off an 8'x10' soft slab. Slab was ~50cm thick and stopped right below the pillow. HS was ~70cm on pillow and ~110cm right next to pillow The slab was not dangerous at this size but felt representative of the avalanche problem that we most likely would have encountered in steeper terrain. We kept our terrain choice to the low 30°s and under as we triggered a lot of collapses that were not radiating very from the trigger point (~10').
Photo:

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

We kept our terrain choice to the low 30°s and under as we triggered a lot of collapses that were not radiating very from the trigger point (~10'). Cold at 10:30am by the creek. Snow started light around 1pm and by 3:30 it was probably S2-3. Accumulation was maybe 3-4cm by the time we left at 3:30pm

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