Avalanche

Lost Trail backcountry

Cam MackenzieBitterroot
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Quick report

Cracking
specific
Collapsing
widespread

Thanks for the observations from the public and educators on conditions in the southern Bitterroot the past few days. This area has its own snowpack right now with major problems and we appreciate all the eyes on it!

Red flags and signs of instability were obvious and widespread today—whumfs and rolling collapsing at upper elevation.

Weather

Air Temp
25
Cloud Cover
broken
Wind Loading
light
Rain Elevation
n/app
Recent Snowfall
3
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

Warm and muggy at the bottom of the pass, cooling quickly with temps in the 20s at the upper elevation. Periods of strong south wind. Evidence of an overnight rime event at the upper elevation. Temps in the 30s with some greenhouse late in the day at low elevation.

Snowpack

Overall, the snowpack is unstable. There are multiple buried weak layers, but the primary layer of concern is a well-preserved layer of buried surface snow. In areas without the buried SH, the primary layer of concern is buried near-surface facets, now sitting mid-snowpack.

Avalanche

Size
D2 R3
Type
HS
Aspect
E
Trigger
AS
Elevation
7600 ft

Reported via public through multiple public obs on 1.21.24