Bitterroot

Despite low danger, you could still trigger a persistent slab avalanche on upper elevation north and east facing slopes. You may not encounter obvious signs of instability, such as cracking and collapsing. Dig down, and if you find weak sugary snow beneath a slab, avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees. In other areas, the primary hazards are stumps, logs, and rocks due to thin snow coverage. 

A few inches of snow accumulated in the northern end of our forecast region on Tuesday. This small storm was accompanied by moderate wind from the west. Unfortunately, this storm did little to change overall conditions. Last night, moderate wind blew from the southwest.

Clouds will decrease this morning into the afternoon as high pressure builds over the region today into the weekend. In many areas, mountain temperatures will reach above freezing. Light winds from the south are expected as the high pressure moves overhead. 

The persistent problem continues to slowly heal as the snowpack remains thin and little new snow accumulates. A slab found sitting on top of weak basal facets at the ground has become faceted and soft in many areas. It now lacks much of the cohesion needed to create an avalanche. That being said, in isolated areas, we still see a denser slab sitting on top of sugary faceted snow and moderate propagation in snowpit tests. Alas, the persistent slab problem is...persistent.

The likelihood of triggering a persistent slab avalanche is low, and signs of instability are sparse. Find a safe location on a slope representative of what you plan to ski and ride and dig down into the snowpack to look for poor snowpack structure. If you find unstable conditions, avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Remember, low danger does not mean no danger. Take, for example, this avalanche incident that occurred nearby on December 23rd in the Flathead Avalanche Center’s forecast area. The danger rating that day was low (Level 1 of 5).

Snow depth is still insufficient to ski or ride at middle and lower elevations in many areas. Even at upper elevations, hazards such as buried stumps, logs, and rocks are widespread. Use caution when traveling the backcountry.

Small, isolated wind slabs may be found on or just below north and east ridgelines. A small avalanche could sweep you off your feet and carry you over hazards. Keep an eye out for shooting cracks and recent avalanches. Minimize your risk by using safe travel practices, like exposing one person at a time to steep slopes and always carrying your rescue gear.

Keep your tips up as we wait for more snow to arrive. Times like these are a great opportunity to practice avalanche rescue with your backcountry partners or enjoy some boondocking in low hazard meadows.

Please consider submitting an observation of what you see in the backcountry. Even a simple photo or a brief description of the weather helps forecasters better understand conditions and create more accurate forecasts.

Contact us here if you're interested in volunteering for a field day with the Avalanche Center. This is a unique opportunity to ski or ride with a forecaster and learn or grow your own snow and avalanche skills. 

Ski and ride safe!