Quick report
Lolo Pass Avalanche problem today: Normal Caution, no specific avalanche problems stood out.
No signs of instability observed. Small point releases in sheltered terrain but steady wind seems to have kept the snow cool enough to not tip into a widespread wet loose cycle.Weather
- Air Temp
- 40 at 1500 on Lolo Pass
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Rain Elevation
- n/app
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Moderate wind loading along BR crest from Saddle Mtn on LT pass to the northern BR. Largest loading events on Sugarloaf, El Cap, and St Mary with most loading onto east aspects. Lolo Pass had moderate winds but damp snow was unavailable for transport.
Snowpack
Today I re visited an area in the highway shots start zones where I found poor snowpack structure 1.5 weeks ago. The snowpack has gained significant strength since then with increased rounding in the basal facets and a decrease in the hand hardness stepoff.
I was getting CT failures in the 5 tap range failing below the rain crust about 10 inches below the snow surface. There was no propagation on ECTs. The snow above the crust was damp near surface facets.
Despite moderate to strong wind, there was no wind transport around Lolo Pass due to the heavy damp snow.
Avalanche
No avalanches observed.