Quick report
We dug four pits last Saturday through Tuesday on the Bitterroot divide near Lost Horse. Overall, the snowpack seemed stable for the large amount of daily snow and we had no propagation in any pit. Each was dug at least 120 cm deep. We did not have any whoomphing, small slides, or cracking on any slope and traveled on all aspects. It was snowing on the order of 6 inches a day until Monday when about 12 to 14 fell. Four day snow was about 30 inches. Saturday 7300 east aspect mid slope in sparse trees, Total depth 240 cm Ectn17 33cm Ectn25 60 cm Saturday 7500 northeast aspect 50’ below ridgeline, total depth 315 Ectn 4 15 cm Ectn 24 40 cm Sunday 7500 northeast aspect 25’ below ridgeline. 240 total depth Ectn21 28 cm Ectn24 40 cm Ectn28 63 cm Ectx 105 Crust w facets This was the only pit we were able to find the January crust which had facets below it, likely due to sun exposure being near ridgetop. It was also the only pit where we were able to get planar shears when prying on the column. The 63 cm layer and the 105 cm deep crust broke fairly clean when the column was pried but were unreactive to the ECT. Tuesday 7300 ENE aspect several hundred feet below ridgeline in sparse trees. Total depth 380+ Ectn12 35 cm (snow from previous night) Ectn23 57 cm Ectn 28 70 cm
Avalanche
Two large D1 sloughs originating on a steep slope and rocks during the snow Monday night.