Avalanche

Lost Trail backcountry

Cam MackenzieBitterroot
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Quick report

Cracking
specific
Collapsing
specific
  • Today I joined our Level 1 class behind Lost Trail. The class observed whumfing and collapsing as they travelled around. In their snowpits, they saw propagation in tests but with inconsistent scores. I travelled lower on the slope from the class and had whumfing and shooting cracks. I pulled a crack back to do a crown profile and found it failed on buried surface hoar with a score of ECTP 2 and ECTP 3 directly above the crown. 
  • There were multiple natural D2 avalanches in north facing terrain in the Saddle Mountain cirque likely triggered by cornice failure. I did a crown profile on one and found a 3 foot hard slab sitting on top buried near surface facets. These likely ran early in the storm as they were filled in with a fresh layer of wind slab. 
  • I also observed 2 natural fresher avalanches two ridgelines to the south that likely ran on Saturday. 
  • Low elevations do not have enough snow for avalanches anymore. 
Collapsing, whumfing, shooting cracks on upper elevation north aspects.

Weather

Air Temp
35
Cloud Cover
scattered
Wind Loading
none
Recent Snowfall
0
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

Warm spring day. Strong cloud cover divide over Lost Trail Pass with mostly cloudy skies to the south and blue sky to the north. Minimal wind.

Avalanche

Size
D2
Type
HS
Aspect
NE
Trigger
N
Elevation
7200 ft

Viewed from Lost Trail, local knowledge thinks they ran 2.28