Montana Crest

<p>Beautiful day in the backcountry around RMR. An inversion brought warm temps and the sun was baking the snowpack on south facing slopes around noon. Melting on trees was a good indicator that things were warming up. A quick pit yesterday showed obvious layers that could cause problems if the top layer started to have some cohesion which the warming temps gave it. This size 3 avy was skier triggered as they were ski cutting the top of the slope. The slide easily propagated as it moved down the hill. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Open trees, Sunny slopes.

Terrain Avoided

Steep slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Rapid temperature rise to near zero degrees or wet surface snow.

Snow Conditions

Powder.