2020-21 West Central Montana Avalanche upates: 4/29/2021 END OF SEASON PARTING WORDS

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 09, 2021 06:49 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 9, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by Spark R&D. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. It seems like it is properly winter all of a sudden. New snow again yesterday, 4-10″, and cold temperatures have it feeling right for the season. Up to 48″ of new snow fell in some areas over the last week, this is compacting to around 2.5′ as it settles. It is great to look at a pit wall and see a uniform mass of snow over two feet thick without a crust or facet layer, although this is still something that plagues or lower snowpack. While the skiing and riding have improved dramatically, it is not open season yet. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Caution is still warranted, and travel on slopes steeper than 30º is not yet recommended. Winds increased yesterday and ample fresh snow was loading leeward slopes. Winds slabs were very touchy and growing in the Rattlesnake yesterday. There was evidence of wind loading at Lolo, the Southern Missions, and Bitterroot and evidence of wind slab avalanches in all locations from mid storm. Winds started from the west yesterday and switched to northerly. Moderate northeast winds are forecast for today will continue to load slopes. Multiple aspects may have wind slabs due to these shifting winds. Prior to the storm, cornices were already large and collapsing. Any that remain are larger, unstable, unpredictable, and could trigger avalanches if they fall. There were widespread natural avalanches throughout the forecast area this weekend. These slid on existing persistent week layers such as the January 13 facet/crust combo. For example, a fairly large avalanche, several hundred feet wide, with up to 4-foot crown happened this weekend in Jenny bowl. Long distance propagation like this is typical of persistent weak layers. The new snow sits on various facet layers throughout the forecast area, and we are seeing propagation in these during stability tests. It is possible to trigger avalanches within the facets, and shallower avalanches may step down to deeper layers creating large avalanches. Last week, there were 15 avalanche fatalities in the US, including one in the northern Swans on Saturday. This is the most avalanche deaths in a week since 1910. The snowpack throughout the western US is unstable and precarious. Don’t add to the numbers. Now is not the time to push into steep terrain. The snowpack needs time to settle out and bond. The Bottom Line Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended, dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Avoid slopes over 30º and runout zones. Remotely triggered avalanches from the side, below, or above are possible. Natural avalanches are possible, human triggered avalanches in wind slab are likely. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Remember to reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig a pit. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events: Please visit our education page for an up to date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. February 10th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 9, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 11, 2021 06:46 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 11, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE in wind loaded terrain and MODERATE elsewhere. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Tuesday, February 11, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by Spark R&D. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. The snow continues to trickle in, 0.4” to 0.5″ of SWE in the last 48hrs. Temperatures have stayed cold, preserving light snow. Light snow showers are expected today and up to 6″ of new snow is forecast for the Bitterroots south of Hamilton. Winds have been westerly and moderate to strong at upper elevations. Northerly winds gusting to 40mph are forecast today. There is plenty of snow for transport. Temperatures will drop today with the arrival of the arctic air mass. Lows tonight of – 27ºF and a high of -10ºF may negatively affect stability as the snowpack adjusts to the rapid drop in temperatures. Windslab remains a concern. Fresh wind slab is currently building with wind and ample soft snow. Winds are shifting from west to east and northeast, as a result, multiple aspects may have loading. The central Bitterroot may have touchier and larger wind slabs as they are receiving the bulk of today’s snow. It is likely to trigger windslab in steep upper elevation start zones today. Where slides did not occur during the storm much of the wind slab sits on the rain crust/facet combo and has the potential to propagate long distances creating large destructive avalanches. Snowpack variability continues to be a theme throughout the forecast area with the new snow sitting on a variety of surfaces and bonding at different rates. Some areas in Lolo, and the central Bitterroot showed good bonding, while other areas in Lolo, the Rattlesnake, the central and southern Bitterroot, and the Seeley Lake area still have buried surface hoar, facets and the January 13 crust/facet layer that have not yet bonded and are capable of producing large avalanches. Investigate the snowpack often as you ascend to get an idea of the problems and instabilities. Facets and depth hoar are present where the snowpack was shallow prior to the last storm. These are still reactive and capable of the low likelihood/high consequence failures we have been concerned about for a while. On Sunday, an intentional skier triggered avalanche in the southern Bitterroot failed in depth hoar at the ground. Collapsing occurred during travel yesterday at mid elevations on Mt. Ward, and in shallow areas in the southern Bitterroot, indicating poor structure capable of avalanching. Similar structure to this exists at mid elevations throughout the forecast area, at all elevations in the Rattlesnake, and in previous shallow spots such as windswept ridges. Wind slab avalanches and cornice failures may step down to these deeper instabilities. Take care and stay heads up as you travel in these areas. It is best to avoid slopes over 30º where the weak faceted base exists. Yesterday, widespread natural avalanches that failed over the weekend were visible in the southern Bitterroot. These primarily failed on east slopes indicating windslab. They likely slid on the Jan 13 rain crust/ facet layer. Where slopes did not fail, weak layers are still present and may still fail with a trigger such as a skier or rider. Last week, there were 16 avalanche fatalities in the US, including one in the northern Swans on Saturday. This is the most avalanche deaths in a week since 1910. The snowpack throughout the western US is unstable and precarious, and backcountry use has increased dramatically this year. These deaths are a sobering reminder to make conservative choices. Given the variability of our current snowpack and the complexity this adds to decision making, it is a good time to enjoy the powder on low angle slopes, and allow more time before venturing into avalanche terrain. The Bottom Line It is likely to trigger windslab in upper elevation wind loaded terrain today. It is possible to trigger an avalanche on persistent weak layers underlying the new snow. It is possible to trigger avalanches on depth hoar in areas that were shallow prior to the storm. Avoid wind loaded terrain and stay alert for thin areas where basal faceting may exist, investigate that snow often to determine the bonding at the new snow/old snow interface. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Remember to reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig a pit. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up to date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. February 17th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 11, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 13, 2021 06:46 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 13, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE in wind loaded terrain and MODERATE elsewhere. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Saturday, February 13, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by Spark R&D. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Frigid temperatures have settled in over the last 48hrs. It is currently -10ºF at 7800′ and temperatures have dipped to -26º in the last 24 hours. Winds have been moderate, with extreme gusts out of the northeast. Snow has continued to fall and there has been ~0.3″ of SWE in the past 48hrs. Winds are shifting to more easterly today and will be moderate with strong gusts, perfect for transporting snow. The cold is slowing or stalling the bonding of the new snow to the January 13 crust/facet layer. In some areas, where the snowpack is less than 6 feet deep, facets may be growing and weakening bonds. Near surface facets are forming in the top 4″ of the snowpack, these may cause issues with the next significant load of snow. Windslab remains a concern. Fresh wind slab is currently building with wind and ample soft snow. West and south aspects have been loaded by easterly winds. Wind slab may exist on other aspects as well. Natural windslab avalanches have occurred over the past two days. Where slides did not occur during the storm, much of the wind slab sits on the rain crust/facet combo and has the potential to propagate long distances creating large destructive avalanches. It is likely to trigger windslab in steep start zones above 6000′ today. Snowpack variability continues to be a theme throughout the forecast area with the new snow sitting on a variety of surfaces and bonding at different rates. Some areas in Lolo and the central Bitterroot showed good bonding, while other areas in Lolo, the Rattlesnake, the central and southern Bitterroot, and the Seeley Lake area still have buried surface hoar, facets, and the January 13 crust/facet layer that have not yet bonded and are capable of producing large avalanches. An avalanche was remotely triggered on this layer on Thursday the 11th (video). Investigate the snowpack often as you ascend to get an idea of the problems and instabilities. Facets and depth hoar are present where the snowpack was shallow prior to the last storm. These are still reactive and capable of the low likelihood/high consequence failures we have been concerned about for a while. On Sunday, an intentional skier triggered avalanche in the southern Bitterroot failed in depth hoar at the ground. Collapsing occurred during travel Wednesday at mid elevations on Mt. Ward, and in shallow areas in the southern Bitterroot, indicating poor structure capable of avalanching. Similar structure to this exists at mid elevations throughout the forecast area, at all elevations in the Rattlesnake, and in previous shallow spots such as windswept ridges. Wind slab avalanches and cornice failures may step down to these deeper instabilities. Take care and stay heads up as you travel in these areas. It is best to avoid slopes over 30º where the weak faceted base exists. Widespread natural avalanches failed over the weekend in the southern Bitterroot. These primarily failed on east slopes indicating windslab. They likely slid on the Jan 13 rain crust/facet layer. Where slopes did not fail, weak layers are still present and may still fail with a trigger such as a skier or rider. Last week, there were 16 avalanche fatalities in the US, including one in the northern Swans on Saturday. This is the most avalanche deaths in a week since 1910. The snowpack throughout the western US is unstable, and backcountry use has increased dramatically this year. These deaths are a sobering reminder to make conservative choices. Given the variability of our current snowpack and the complexity this adds to decision making, it is a good time to enjoy the powder on low angle slopes, and allow more time before venturing into avalanche terrain. The Bottom Line It is likely to trigger windslab in upper elevation, wind loaded terrain today. It is possible to trigger an avalanche on persistent weak layers underlying the new snow. It is possible to trigger avalanches on depth hoar in areas that were shallow prior to the storm. Avoid wind loaded terrain and stay alert for thin areas where basal faceting may exist. Investigate that snow often to determine the bonding at the new snow/old snow interface. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Remember to reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig a pit. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events: Please visit our education page for an up to date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. February 17th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 13, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 16, 2021 06:48 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 16, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE. New snow and wind are creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by LB Snow. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Mountain temperatures range from 17 degrees to 28 degrees F this morning. Snotels are reporting between .4 and .7 SWE for the last 24 hours. Winds are predicted today to be out of the west and 20 mph. The best way to breakdown our problems is into 3 types. New snow, old snow, and wind drifted snow. The new snow is heavier and not bonding to the light snow underneath from this weekend. The new snow is easily triggered on all aspects. In the central Bitterroot, Rattlesnake, and southern Bitterroot, we saw several small sluffs and experienced cracking from skis and machines in the new snow. Winds picked up later in the day and overnight. Wind slabs were easily triggered yesterday on ridges lines in the Rattlesnake, central Bitterroot and near Lost Trail Pass. These slabs are continuing to grow and will be easily triggered today. Cornices are increasing in size and should be given a wide berth. The new snow is loading weak layers in our snowpack. We experienced collapsing in elevations from 6000 ft to 7000 ft yesterday near Gash Point in the central Bitterroot and near Lost Trail Pass. We saw evidence of slides over the weekend that failed on the Jan 13 crust in the Rattlesnake and the southern and central Bitterroot. There are facets that are failing easily in the Rattlesnake about a foot down in the snowpack. Here is video link. There is a lot of spatial variability from drainage to drainage and slope to slope. Today avoid traveling under or on wind-loaded slopes. Choose slopes less than 30 degrees that are sheltered from the wind and not attached to steeper terrain. Avoid slopes with shallow, weak snowpacks. Use hand pits and small test slopes to see how the new snow is bonding to old snow surfaces. Pay attention to changing weather conditions. Stay alert when changing aspect and elevation to the changes in snowpack’s depth and structure. Over the weekend, there was an avalanche death near Beehive Basin, North of Big Sky. Our sincere, heartfelt condolences go to the family and friends of those involved. Here is more information from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. The Bottom Line We have multiple snow problems (New snow, Old snow, and Wind drifted snow). Terrain is the way to combat all of these. Choose slopes less than 30 degrees that are sheltered from the wind and not attached to steeper terrain. Build in larger safety margins. Keep it simple with uniform slope choices. Avoid likely trigger points on slopes. Do not travel under steep slopes because you can trigger an avalanche from above, the side, or below. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Remember to reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig a pit. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up to date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. February 17th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements You’ve prayed, hoped, and danced for snow all winter, and it’s finally here! Western Montana’s backcountry is busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the snow that February has delivered. The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation wants to ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely. To celebrate the return of winter and support west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 16, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 18, 2021 06:47 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 18, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE. Heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Thursday, February 18, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by LB Snow. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Snowpack and Weather Mountain temperatures range from 8º to 16º and will rise up to 30º today. Between 0.2″ and 1.4″ SWE has fallen, depending on location, in the past 48 hrs. Winds have been moderate and westerly with strong gusts and will be light out of the southwest today. The next round of snow arrives this evening. Variability continues to be the theme throughout the forecast area with avalanche conditions differing broadly by aspect and elevation. As a result, careful terrain and snowpack assessment are essential for safe travel. Overall conditions are improving, with many areas showing good bonding at problem layers. Exceptions to this are areas of: Wind slab Persistent weak layers New snow instabilities Persistent weak layers continue to be an issue in many zones. Previously shallow snowpacks at mid-elevations and wind swept areas have multiple faceted layers deep in the snowpack that are failing in stability tests and collapsing during travel. It is possible to trigger large destructive avalanches in these areas from above, below, and adjacent to slopes. North aspects were scoured by north winds last week and rapidly faceted by the frigid cold. Very weak snow underlies the new snow. As this consolidates, larger avalanches will become more likely. Frequent snowpack investigation is required to determine the presence of facets. Snow pits, probing with ski poles, and quick hand pits will all aid assessment. Where facets are found, avoid slopes over 30º. Winds were loading leeward slopes in the Rattlesnake and central Bitterroot yesterday. Wind slabs were cracking and sliding in some places. Avoid wind-loaded start zones over 35º in upper elevations. New snow was sluffing easily and quickly in steep terrain yesterday. While small, these sluffs could knock a skier off their feet. Terrain traps increase the consequences of these slides. In many areas, the new snow is denser than the underlying snow and as it consolidates soft storm slab avalanches are possible, convexities close to 38º are the most likely places for these. The Bottom Line Heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features. It is possible to trigger an avalanche on persistent weak layers, windslab, storm slab, and in loose snow today. Mid elevations and north aspects are the most likely places to find persistent weak layers. Wind slabs are found at upper elevations over 35º. Loose snow and storm slab is an issue on slopes over 38º. Frequent terrain and snowpack assessment are essential for safe travel. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. February 24th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements You’ve prayed, hoped, and danced for snow all winter, and it’s finally here! Western Montana’s mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the new snow. The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation wants to ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely. To celebrate the return of winter and support west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 18, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 20, 2021 06:16 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 20, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE on wind loaded slopes and MODERATE on other slopes. Winds and new snow are creating dangerous avalanche conditions on wind loaded slopes. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Saturday, February 20, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by LB Snow. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Mountain temperatures range from 17 degrees to 26 degrees F this morning. Snotels are reporting between .3 and .7 SWE for the last 24 hours. Winds are predicted today to be out of the west and range 12 mph gusting into the 30’s. Winds were loading leeward slopes at higher elevations yesterday. We saw active snow transport in the southern Bitterroot, central Bitterroot, and southern Missions yesterday. Overnight winds have increased and created dangerous large slabs that will be easily triggered on leeward slopes. There is plenty of new snow available to transport. Yesterday our sled tracks were completely erased in 2 hours on the ridge in the southern Missions. New snow was sluffing easily and quickly in steep terrain yesterday in the southern Bitterroot. Yesterday in the southern Missions we found a storm slab in terrain that was slightly wind blown. The new snow was not bonding well and propagating in our tests. While small, these sluffs could knock a skier off their feet. Terrain traps increase the consequences of these slides. In many areas, the new snow is denser than the underlying snow and as it consolidates soft storm slab avalanches are possible, convexities close to 38º are the most likely places for these. Use hand pits and small test pits to assess how the new snow is bonding to the old snow. Frequent snowpack investigation is required to determine the presence of facets. Snow pits, probing with ski poles, and quick hand pits will all aid assessment. Where facets are found, avoid slopes over 30º. Previously shallow snowpacks at mid-elevations and wind swept areas have multiple faceted layers deep in the snowpack that are failing in stability tests and collapsing during travel. The persistent weak layers in our snowpack are slowly gaining strength but should not be discounted yet.If you get off your machine or skis and punch down deep into weak snow, this is a sign of poor snowpack structure and facets. Dig a pit, see if there is a shallow snowpack. The Bottom Line Today choose sheltered slopes. Avoid wind loaded terrain. Use hand pits and small test slopes to see how the new snow is bonding to the old snow. Dig a pit see if the snowpack is shallow 3 to 4 feet deep. Manage your terrain to your advantage. Mid elevations and north aspects are the most likely places to find persistent weak layers. Loose snow and storm slab is an issue on sheltered slopes over 38º. Frequent terrain and snowpack assessment are essential for safe travel. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. February 24th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements You’ve prayed, hoped, and danced for snow all winter, and it’s finally here! Western Montana’s mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the new snow. The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation wants to ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely. To celebrate the return of winter and support west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 20, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 22, 2021 06:00 pm Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Warning for February 22, 2021​ View Full Advisory » An avalanche warning has been issued for the southern Mission, southern Swan, Rattlesnake, and southern and central Bitterroot mountains. The avalanche danger for the west central Montana backcountry is HIGH. The avalanche hazard is increasing with elevated temperatures, wind, and precipitation. Human-triggered avalanches are certain, natural avalanches are likely. Very large, destructive avalanches are possible. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. This avalanche warning is valid for 24 hours. The avalanche warning will either be extended or terminated at 6:00pm on February 23, 2021. Weather and Snowpack Strong winds and rising temperatures are creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Up to 2″ of SWE is forecast for the next 12 hrs and snow will continue until Wednesday. Deep faceted layers are being stressed and reawakened by wind, temperatures, and snow load. A D4 avalanche that uprooted mature trees and ran the full length of the historic path released naturally in Lost Horse in the central Bitterroot yesterday evening, stepping down to ground. There have been multiple reports of whumpfing and settling on basal facets in the Bitterroot in the past week, indicating an unstable structure that could fail catastrophically. The Rattlesnake has facet layers on north aspects. These faceted layers are being rapidly loaded. Winds are creating dangerous wind slabs that are growing rapidly. In the southern Swan, these have been failing naturally for the past 24 hrs. Cornices are huge, growing, and unstable. Cornice fall or windslab could step down to deeper layers. Sections of basal facets that could be overloaded exist throughout the region and avalanches similar to the one in Lost Horse are possible. The Bottom Line Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avoid being under run-out zones, avalanches may be remotely triggered, and run to historic limits. You can trigger an avalanche remotely from the side, below, or above you. Expect the avalanche danger to be elevated as snow and wind continue. This warning will be terminated or extended tomorrow at 6:00pm. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Warning for February 22, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 23, 2021 05:59 pm Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 23, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche warning has been extended for the southern Mission, southern Swan, Rattlesnake, and southern and central Bitterroot mountains. The avalanche danger for the west central Montana backcountry is HIGH. The avalanche hazard remains elevated with continued wind and precipitation. Human-triggered avalanches are certain, natural avalanches are likely. Very large, destructive avalanches are possible. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. This avalanche warning is valid for 36 hours. The avalanche warning will either be extended or terminated at 7:00am on February 25, 2021. Weather and Snowpack Strong winds and snowfall have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Up to 1.8″ of SWE has fallen since last night and vast amounts of snow have been transported by strong winds. 3″-7″ additional snow is expected tonight accompanied by moderate winds. Deep faceted layers are being stressed and reawakened by wind and snow load. A D4 avalanche that uprooted mature trees and ran the full length of the historic path released naturally in Lost Horse in the central Bitterroot Sunday evening, stepping down to ground. There have been multiple reports of whumpfing and settling on basal facets in the Bitterroot in the past week, indicating an unstable structure that could fail catastrophically. This is the area currently most loaded by new snow and wind, increasing the likelihood of very large, full-depth avalanches. The Rattlesnake has facets and very poor structure on north aspects that have been heavily loaded by wind and snow for the past 36 hours. Winds have also created dangerous wind slabs that are growing rapidly. In the southern Swan, these began failing naturally on Sunday, and have grown since. Cornices are huge, growing, and unstable. Cornice fall or windslab could step down to deeper layers. Sections of basal facets that could be overloaded exist throughout the region and avalanches similar to the one in Lost Horse are possible. The Bottom Line Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avoid being under run-out zones, avalanches may be remotely triggered, and run to historic limits. You can trigger an avalanche remotely from the side, below, or above you. Expect the avalanche danger to be elevated as snow and winds continue. This warning will be terminated or extended on Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 am. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 23, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 25, 2021 06:57 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 25, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE. The avalanche warning has been terminated. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Thursday, February 25, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by LB Snow. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Snowpack and Weather Mountain temps are currently 8º-11º F and will rise to the upper 20s today. The last 24hrs of weather brought us up to 0.4” SWE and light to moderate winds. Storm totals were between 8″ on the lower end and 30″ at upper elevations. The next round of snow, 2-5”, arrives late this morning with moderate to strong westerly winds. Precipitation will continue till Sunday. The southern and central Bitterroot, the Rattlesnake, and the southern Missions and the Swans all had natural avalanche activity during or in the wake of the storm. Observations yesterday showed that avalanches continue to be likely in many areas. Persistent slabs are the problem that could create the most destructive avalanches. Multiple persistent weak layers exist in the snowpack, some up to 6 feet deep. These were propagating in tests yesterday and played a role in many of the avalanches over the past few days. The January 13 rain crust/facet layer continues to be an issue in spots. Depth hoar and basal facets exist at mid elevations and shallow spots in the southern and central Bitterroot and the Rattlesnake. Advanced facets in the upper snowpack of the Rattlesnake are very reactive. Buried surface hoar can be found in various locations. Over time, with more depth, these will heal, but for the time being give them space and avoid slopes over 30º. The snowpack has been loaded, is stressed, and more loading will commence today. Persistent slabs can be unpredictable, especially as they get buried deeper. The R4 D4 slide in Lost Horse shows what these are capable of. Significant winds loaded all aspects with windslab due to local terrain effects. The last 4 to 8 inches of snow fell with little wind in much of the forecast area burying windslab that may still be reactive and deep. New slabs are being created by moderate winds with extreme gusts and today’s snowfall. Shooting cracks were observed in multiple areas yesterday indicating unstable conditions. Cornices are huge and ready to fall. Strong sun yesterday affected southern aspects creating wet snow and roller balls. Crusts were forming by late afternoon with cooling temperatures. Cold over night temperatures may have resulted in near surface facets in moist areas. This is something to keep an eye on as it gets buried. There is fantastic powder skiing on low angle slopes right now. That is what I am going to be enjoying throughout the storm cycle that lasts till Sunday. The steep slopes will be there after the current instabilities heal. The Bottom Line Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avoid being under run-out zones, avalanches may be remotely triggered, and run to historic limits. You can trigger an avalanche remotely from the side, below, or above you. Expect the avalanche danger to be elevated as snow and winds continue through Sunday. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 3rd, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements You’ve prayed, hoped, and danced for snow all winter, and it’s finally here! Western Montana’s mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the new snow. The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation wants to ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely. To celebrate winter’s return and support west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public observations We’ve been receiving excellent public observations. These are immensely helpful for us and a great resource for others to learn about conditions in specific locations. Keep them coming. Submit them here, or text to 406-219-5566 if you don’t have time to fill out the online form. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 25, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Feb 27, 2021 06:52 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for February 27, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Saturday, February 27, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by Spark R&D. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Snowpack and Weather Mountain temps are currently 10º to 22º F and will rise to the upper 20s today. The last 48hrs of weather brought us up to 1.2” of SWE and light to moderate winds. A few inches of snow is forecast today, with some areas picking up more or less due to local snow showers. Moderate winds are out of the west. Precipitation will continue till this evening. The snow has continued to fall. Coupled with the wind it has created touchy wind slab conditions. A wind slab avalanche, with an 8-foot crown, released on the backside of Point 6 in the Rattlesnake Wilderness yesterday morning. This depth included wind loading from the storm earlier this week, indicating that wind slab created by Monday and Tuesday’s high winds are capable of failing with the current loading. Given the extent of loading on all aspects from the previous storm and subsequent snowfall, deep wind slab may be difficult to detect. The best way to manage this hazard is to avoid slopes over 32º and stay out from under steeper slopes, even small ones could harbor deep wind slab. Cornices are very touchy currently and could fall naturally. As wind and snow continue leeward slopes will be loaded further, increasing touchiness. Persistent slabs are the problem that could create the most destructive avalanches. Multiple persistent weak layers exist in the snowpack, some up to 6 feet deep. These were propagating in tests yesterday and played a role in many of the avalanches over the past week. The January 13 rain crust/facet layer continues to be an issue in spots. Depth hoar and basal facets exist at mid-elevations and shallow spots in the southern and central Bitterroot and the Rattlesnake. Advanced facets on north aspects in the Rattlesnake are reactive. Buried surface hoar can be found in various locations. The snowpack has been loaded and is stressed. Loading will continue today. Persistent slabs can be unpredictable, especially as they get buried deeper. The R4 D4 slide in Lost Horse shows what these are capable of. The continued snowfall is adding depth to the snowpack, which will help these persistent weak layers bond, and increase stability. Fair weather and warm temperatures next week will also help. In the short term, the loading is stressing the snowpack and weak layers. For the time being, give them space, avoid slopes over 32º, and enjoy the fresh powder. The Bottom Line Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Careful terrain and snowpack assessment are required today. Avoid being under run-out zones, avalanches may be remotely triggered, and run to historic limits. You can trigger an avalanche remotely from the side, below, or above you. Expect the avalanche danger to be elevated as snow and winds continue. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Remember to reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig a pit. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 3rd, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements You’ve prayed, hoped, and danced for snow all winter, and it’s finally here! Western Montana’s mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the fresh snow. To celebrate the snowfall and help ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public observations We’ve been receiving excellent public observations. These are immensely helpful for us and a great resource for others to learn about conditions in specific locations. Keep them coming. Submit them here, or text to 406-219-5566 if you don’t have time to fill out the online form. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for February 27, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 02, 2021 06:06 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 2, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Trail Head. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Snowpack and Weather Temperatures range from 20 to 28 degrees this morning. Today expect gusty winds in the 40’s and potential for light snow accumulations. On Friday, there was a natural avalanche in Lost Horse 8.5 miles up the drainage on a South facing aspect that slid, depositing mature timber on the road. There were reports of natural wind slab avalanches in the Rattlesnake. Yesterday, we found reactive facets on the Jan 13 crust in shallow snowpacks in the Brushy Fork. The facets were not reactive in the Rattlesnake in pit tests. This shows us that the likelihood of triggering these avalanches is decreasing, but the consequences are high. The type of avalanche you can trigger will likely be unsurvivable. We observed cornice failure with warming temperatures near Lost Trail Pass. Throughout the advisory area, we saw loose wet releases on steep solar exposed slopes. When roller balls start coming out, it is time to head to shady aspects. Terrain is the way to combat avalanche problems. Choose slopes less than 30 degrees that are simple and not connected to larger terrain. If you choose slopes above 35 degrees, you increase the likelihood of triggering one of the weak layers deeper in our snowpack, and the consequences will be almost unsurvivable. Bottom Line Avoid slopes over 30 degrees. Avoid traveling under large cornices and give them a wide berth on ridges. If roller balls show up move to shadier aspects or head home. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 3rd, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements You’ve prayed, hoped, and danced for snow all winter, and it’s finally here! Western Montana’s mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the fresh snow. To celebrate the snowfall and help ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. All proceeds benefit west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 2, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 04, 2021 06:26 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 4, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Thursday, March 4, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Trail Head. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Mountain temperatures range from 19 to 29 degrees this morning. The snowpack refroze overnight. Winds are expected to be light, and mountain temperatures are expected to rise into the 40’s at higher elevations. Yesterday, we saw a natural avalanche on the Jan 13 crust that happened on a NW face at 7400 feet in the Brushy Fork in the last 48 hours. On a east ridge in the central Bitterroot we had a huge collapse at 7500 feet on an east ridge. In Bass Creek, Swans, Missions, and Central Bitterroot, we saw lots of loose wet activity on slopes exposed to the sun. Any aspect except due north was releasing small loose wet debris. We observed glide cracks forming in the Missions, Swans, and the central Bitterroot. We saw 2 glide avalanches in the central Bitterroot that released on granite slabs. Cornices are starting to drip and sag in all ranges. Travel for the next couple of days will be about timing and terrain choices. Avoid being under cornices and staying far from their edges. When the roller balls show up, or you start punching into the snow, choose shadier terrain or head home. Avoid glide cracks. They can fail unpredictably. The persistent weak layers are still with us and are still reactive. Avoid steep slopes with rock outcrops and rollovers. These are areas where it is more likely to trigger a weak layer. Stick to shady low-angle slopes to combat all of today’s issues. Bottom Line Avoid slopes over 30 degrees. Avoid traveling under large cornices and give them a wide berth on ridges. If roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects or head home. Avoid glide cracks. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 10th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements The mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the goods. To celebrate the snowfall and help ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. All proceeds benefit west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 4, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 05, 2021 06:25 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 5, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is CONSIDERABLE this morning rising to HIGH this afternoon. Avoid traveling in avalanche terrain today. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Friday, March 5, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Trail Head. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Mountain temperatures range from 19 to 33 degrees this morning. Winds are expected to be 10 mph gusting into the 20’s out of the SW. Mountain temperatures are expected to rise into the 40’s at higher elevations. Today is the last day of warming before a cold front enters our area tomorrow. The snowpack did not refreeze in the Rattlesnake. In the Bitterroot at higher elevations the snowpack had a light refreeze. Warm temperatures today will create wet snow avalanches. Wet slab avalanches are unpredictable. Over the last 2 days we have reports of large wet slab avalanches in the central Bitterroot and southern Bitterroot. Sawtooth Creek on a South facing slope at 7500 ft. In the central Bitterroot on a South facing slope at 8000 ft. There are more problems than I can list today. Wet Slab avalanches, wet loose avalanches, cornices, persistent weak layers, and glide cracks. Wet slab avalanches are very unpredictable and produce large unsurvivable avalanches. Today avoid avalanche terrain. Travel on ridges and enjoy the sunshine. Do not cross under avalanche run out zones. Recent avalanches have all been large and run almost the full path of slides reaching valley floors. Bottom Line The amount of avalanche problems today and the unpredictability of wet slab avalanches, glide avalanches and cornice failure combined with our persistent weak layers means , today travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avoid runout zones. Avalanches can run long distances and through mature timber. Give cornices a wide birth on ridges. Avoid glide cracks. Wet avalanche problems are notoriously unpredictable. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 10th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements The mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the goods. To celebrate the snowfall and help ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. All proceeds benefit west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 5, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 06, 2021 06:27 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 6, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Saturday, March 6, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Trail Head. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Temperatures range from 22 to 38 degrees this morning. Temperatures froze overnight in all locations except in the Rattlesnake at higher elevations. This will lock up low elevation and mid-elevation snowpacks. Winds are predicted to be gusty into the 20’s today out of the SW. Winds will help keep the snowpack cool. Cloud cover is expected with the front moving in today. Yesterday, we found N slopes above 7000 ft to be dry. Expect to find a melt-freeze crust today on all other aspects as you travel, getting thinner as you gain elevation. Facets failed in tests above 7000 ft in the Central Bitterroot. Rollerballs were observed from Lost Trail Pass to the Rattlesnake on multiple aspects except for true North. In Lost Horse, we observed several Glide avalanches that failed in the previous days. The Rattlesnake pit tests show the snowpack is gaining strength. Today will have variable conditions. The avalanche danger is MODERATE. Be mindful of changing conditions as you change aspect and gain elevation. Avoid traveling under glide cracks. Pay attention to the snow surface; is it wet or dry? How thick is the crust? Investigate layers you find in the snow and if they are reactive in pit tests. Look for rollerballs and move to a different aspect if you see them. Be on the lookout for small areas of wind drifted snow on ridges and terrain features. Bottom Line Do not let your guard down. Investigate the snowpack today and see how it changes with aspect and elevation. Choose slopes less than 30 degrees. The persistent weak layers are gaining strength but can not be ruled out. Seek shaded slopes that are low angle. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 10th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Special Announcements The mountains are busier than ever before, with new and veteran backcountry users enjoying the goods. To celebrate the snowfall and help ensure everyone has the information needed to enjoy the mountains and return home safely, we bring you Loving La Niña! This virtual fundraising event includes two outstanding gear packages and two ways to enter to win. Please click HERE for more information about this exciting event. All proceeds benefit west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Spread the word, and spread the love for La Niña! Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 6, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 11, 2021 06:45 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 11, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE on north facing slopes above 6500 ft. All other slopes are LOW. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Thursday, March 11, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Big Sky Brewing Company. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Temperatures range from 8 to 16 degrees this morning. Winds will be light gusting to the teens today out of the West. It will be warm and sunny today. Yesterday, we found dry snow on North facing slopes throughout the advisory area. Weak snow still failed in pit tests on these slopes. On all other aspects, there is a supportable crust, and the snowpack has consolidated. The likelihood of triggering these facets is going down, but the consequences of triggering this layer are high. Cornices and glide cracks will be with us for the rest of the season. Cornices are sagging and should be given a wide berth. Avoid glide cracks. Take small steps into riding steeper and steeper terrain. If you feel a supportable crust, it will be less likely to trigger a persistent weak layer. On North facing slopes greater than 35 degrees above 6500 ft, it is possible to trigger a persistent weak layer. Today with warming temperatures and light cloud cover, look for loose wet activity on sun-exposed terrain. When roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects. Bottom Line Choose slopes with a supportable crust to minimize the likelihood of triggering a persistent weak layer. Choose slopes less than 35 degrees if there is not a supportable crust. Avoid traveling under large cornices and give them a wide berth on ridges. If roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects or head home. Avoid glide cracks. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Remember: the danger rating and avalanche forecast are meant to give you baseline information to use in your travels, but YOU get to make the decision whether riding or skiing specific terrain is a good idea or not. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 17th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE March 20th | Avalanche Rescue Course | Provided by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 11, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Avalanche Advisory for March 9, 2021​

View Full Advisory »
The avalanche danger in the west-central Montana backcountry is MODERATE. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.

Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Big Sky Brewing Company. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content.

Weather and Snowpack

Temperatures range from 20 to 26 degrees this morning. Winds will be light in the northern half of the advisory area today. The southern portion of the advisory area will have winds gusting in the 20’s out of the west. 3 to 6 new inches of snow fell in the last 24 hours.

Yesterday winter returned to our region. You can find a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except due North slopes. Any aspect that saw sun last week will have a crust that gets thinner as you gain elevation. Yesterday, from Lost Trail pass to the southern Missions, we found loose dry avalanches triggered easily on the crust with the new snow. The facets in our snowpack are gaining strength but are still showing failures in our pits. See video.

You are most likely to trigger these layers at mid-elevations on north-facing slopes and in shallower snowpacks at high elevations near rocks and ridges. Winds will increase today. Look for small wind slabs on leeward terrain to be sensitive to human triggers today. Give cornices a wide berth on ridges. Glide cracks are out and should be avoided because they can fail unexpectedly.

Bottom Line

Pay attention to how the new snow is bonding to old snow surfaces. Pay attention to aspect and elevation when traveling today. True North slopes will have dry snow but are the most likely to trigger our persistent weak layers. Choose less than 30 degree slopes with dry snow. Avoid shallow start zones on ridges. Before committing to a steep slope ask yourself, What are the consequences of triggering a slide? How big of a slide can I trigger?

Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags.

Upcoming Education Events

Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out.

• March 10th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online 1.5-hr Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE

Special Announcements

We want to reiterate our most sincere thanks to everyone who participated in Loving La Niña! Your contributions support avalanche forecast information and ensure free education programs throughout west-central Montana. We are honored to put these proceeds to work and provide the information needed for having fun and staying safe in the backcountry.

Supporting west-central Montana’s avalanche forecasting and education programs is made possible through your generosity and our gracious sponsors’ help. Together, we can save lives and continue creating the most fun, safe, and responsible backcountry community possible. Again, thank you for your continued support. We couldn’t do it without you!

Public Observations

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions.

You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast.

Ski and ride safe.



The post Avalanche Advisory for March 9, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 11, 2021 06:45 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 11, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE on north facing slopes above 6500 ft. All other slopes are LOW. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Good Morning. This is Travis Craft with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Thursday, March 11, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Big Sky Brewing Company. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Temperatures range from 8 to 16 degrees this morning. Winds will be light gusting to the teens today out of the West. It will be warm and sunny today. Yesterday, we found dry snow on North facing slopes throughout the advisory area. Weak snow still failed in pit tests on these slopes. On all other aspects, there is a supportable crust, and the snowpack has consolidated. The likelihood of triggering these facets is going down, but the consequences of triggering this layer are high. Cornices and glide cracks will be with us for the rest of the season. Cornices are sagging and should be given a wide berth. Avoid glide cracks. Take small steps into riding steeper and steeper terrain. If you feel a supportable crust, it will be less likely to trigger a persistent weak layer. On North facing slopes greater than 35 degrees above 6500 ft, it is possible to trigger a persistent weak layer. Today with warming temperatures and light cloud cover, look for loose wet activity on sun-exposed terrain. When roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects. Bottom Line Choose slopes with a supportable crust to minimize the likelihood of triggering a persistent weak layer. Choose slopes less than 35 degrees if there is not a supportable crust. Avoid traveling under large cornices and give them a wide berth on ridges. If roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects or head home. Avoid glide cracks. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Remember: the danger rating and avalanche forecast are meant to give you baseline information to use in your travels, but YOU get to make the decision whether riding or skiing specific terrain is a good idea or not. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 17th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE March 20th | Avalanche Rescue Course | Provided by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 11, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 13, 2021 06:52 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 13, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE on north facing slopes above 6500 ft, and will increase to moderate on southern aspects this afternoon with warming. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Saturday, March 13, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Black Coffee Roasting Company. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Weather and Snowpack Temperatures range from 14 to 22 degrees this morning and will rise to 45º above 6000′. Winds will be light out of the northeast. Today will be sunny again with temperatures climbing higher than yesterday, and freezing level rising to 8000′. North aspects remain dry despite warm days and sun warming on all other aspects. The most notable outcome of this is that the persistent weak layers continue to persist on north faces. Facets around the Jan 13 rain crust are still propagating in stability tests. While the likelihood of triggering these layers is slowly decreasing it is possible to trigger a slab. It would take the right combination of trigger point and slope steepness: thin, and greater than 35º. If you found it, the avalanche would be unsurvivable with depths of 3 to 4 feet. Due to the depths of these faceted layers, they may not react to the extended column test. The propagation saw test is a good alternative that will give an indication of propagation potential. Shallow areas with multiple faceted layers can still be found in isolated areas throughout the forecast area. Windswept zones in upper elevations are the most likely places. If the snowpack is thin and you can push your pole through to softer snow move to a different slope. The 6 inches of snow we received in the past week is faceting quickly with warm days and cold nights. The result of this is that sluffs are running fast and far on north aspects. In places, these can be deep enough to knock a rider off their feet or push them into terrain traps. Practice sluff management by skiing out of their way after a couple of turns and avoid gullies that increase depth and limit escape options. If we get a load of snow on top of these near surface facets or the surface hoar that is growing, they will likely be problem layers. Cornices and glide cracks will be with us for the rest of the season. These are two unpredictable avalanche problems. Cornices were sagging and dripping yesterday. With continued warmth and sun the likelihood of cornice fall increases. Give them a wide berth and stay out from underneath. Large cornice fall could trigger lingering persistent slabs. Glide cracks can slowly open as the snowpack creeps downhill, accelerating as with warming. They can also fail unexpectedly creating full depth avalanches. Stay off slopes where they are present. Today with elevated temperatures and clear skies, watch for loose wet activity on sun-exposed terrain. There is potential for more activity than previous days with freezing levels rising to 8000′. Bottom Line Persistent slab avalanches are possible on north aspects greater than 35º. Sluffs are running long distances on north aspects. Wet loose avalanches are likely in the afternoon on southern aspects. Avoid traveling under large cornices and give them a wide berth on ridges. If roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects or head home. Avoid glide cracks. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 17th, 6-7:30 PM MST | FREE Online Avalanche Awareness Session | Missoulaavalanche.org event | Delivered by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE March 20th | Avalanche Rescue Course | Provided by A3 Pro instructors | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. This online forum is a great resource to glean information about current conditions. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Texted observations won’t get posted on the website, but will be used in the development of the forecast. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 13, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 16, 2021 06:55 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 16, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is LOW this morning and rising to MODERATE this afternoon. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Montana Backcountry Alliance. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Mountain temps dipped to 28º overnight, and are expected to rise to 43º today. Winds will be light out of the southwest. The last few days really cranked up the heat. Any aspect that catches sun has been heavily affected. As a result, loose wet avalanches were abundant over the weekend. One wet slab was reported and there were likely more that released in isolated areas. Amazingly, north aspects above 6500′ remain mostly dry. The main hazard right now is wet loose avalanches during the afternoon. These can be seen on all aspects but north and will continue with daytime warming and sun, peaking in late afternoon. Last night’s freeze was somewhat weak with temperatures dipping just below freezing, but most surfaces above 6000′ should have refrozen. However, check for wet snow below the surface. Yesterday in the Rattlesnake certain south slopes were moist to the ground indicating they did not refreeze overnight. When this happens bonds in the snowpack have broken down and liquid water can lubricate weak layers leading to wet slab avalanches. If you can push your pole down through moist snow, or you are sinking in past mid boot, it’s time to move to shadier aspects. Avoid traveling under avalanche slopes in these conditions. Lower elevations where temperatures remained elevated overnight are at higher risk. There is a slight chance of wet slab avalanches. These will be most likely with strong sun warming, cornice fall, or where temperatures remained elevated overnight. In isolated areas, persistent weak layers linger on north aspects. The weekend’s warmth will have helped bond these, but they cannot be ruled out yet. Propagation was found at Lolo Pass yesterday at the base of a shallow snowpack, and a similar structure exists in isolated areas throughout the forecast area. Shallow spots at ridgetop, around rocks, or where wind-scoured are most suspect. If in doubt avoid convexities and slopes 35º or greater. Cornices and glide cracks will be with us for the rest of the season. These are two unpredictable avalanche problems. Cornices were sagging yesterday. With continued warmth and sun, the likelihood of cornice fall increases. Give them a wide berth and stay out from underneath. Large cornice fall could trigger lingering persistent slabs. Glide cracks can slowly open as the snowpack creeps downhill, accelerating as with warming. They can also fail unexpectedly, creating full-depth avalanches. Stay off slopes where they are present. Bottom Line Wet loose avalanches are likely in the afternoon on south and west aspects. Isolated persistent slab remains a problem on north aspects. Avoid traveling under large cornices and give them a wide berth on ridges. If roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects or head home. Avoid glide cracks. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 17th, 6 PM MST | FREE Online Avalanche Awareness Session | Get more details and register HERE March 20th | Avalanche Rescue Course | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 16, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.

 

[Scott]

Current West Central Montana Avalanche Advisory Posted: Mar 18, 2021 06:57 am Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Avalanche Advisory for March 18, 2021​ View Full Advisory » The avalanche danger in the west central Montana backcountry is MODERATE this morning, rising to CONSIDERABLE this afternoon. Mild overnight tempuratures and above average daytime temperatures will alow rapid warming of the snowpack today. Large wet slab avalanches are possible. Good Morning. This is Jeff Carty with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center advisory on Thursday, March 18, 2021. This advisory is sponsored by the Montana Backcountry Alliance. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas and expires at midnight tonight. The USDA Forest Service is solely responsible for its content. Mountain temperatures peaked at 45º at Stuart Peak, and 55º at Lolo pass yesterday. Last night they dipped to 30-33º, and are expected to rise to above 50º today. Winds will be southerly and moderate. There hasn’t been much change in conditions in the last 48hrs. Any aspect that catches sun has been heavily affected. As a result, loose wet avalanches have been abundant. A few more wet slab avalanches have been spotted and dead north aspects above 6500’ remained mostly dry yesterday. Today’s high temperatures coupled with a very weak freeze overnight increase the likelihood of wet slab avalanches. Most aspects and elevations will be affected by today’s warmth. The most abundent hazard right now is wet loose avalanches during the afternoon. These can be seen on all aspects but north and will continue with daytime warming and sun, peaking in late afternoon. Last night’s freeze was very weak with temperatures reaching or dipping just below freezing, most surfaces above 6000′ should have refrozen, it may be just the surface. Check for wet snow below the surface, this indicates that the snowpack is not refreezing overnight. When this happens, bonds in the snowpack have broken down and liquid water can lubricate weak layers leading to wet slab avalanches. If you can push your pole down through a crust and into moist snow, or you are sinking in past mid boot, it’s time to move to head home or to shadier aspects if there is a safe route to and from them. Avalanche crowns spotted in the Swans yesterday indicate that wet slabs are possible, one of these was 500 yards wide. Wet loose avalanches had begun by 10am in the central Bitterroot indicating a weakly frozen snowpack. Warmer temperatures today will lead to more unstable conditions. Avoid traveling on or under avalanche slopes in these conditions. Lower elevations where temperatures remained elevated overnight are at higher risk. The chance of wet slab avalanches will be most likely with strong sun warming later the day. However, due to the unpredictability of wet slabs, avoid all avalanche slopes all day today. The past week’s warmth has helped bond persistent weak layers. Yesterday was the first day we’ve had without propagation in the areas we dug. In isolated areas, persistent weak layers may still linger on north aspects. Shallow spots at ridgetop, around rocks, or where wind-scoured are most suspect. If in doubt avoid convexities and slopes 35º or greater. Cornices and glide cracks will be with us for the rest of the season. These are two unpredictable avalanche problems. Cornices were sagging yesterday. With continued warmth and sun, the likelihood of cornice fall increases. Give them a wide berth and stay out from underneath. Large cornice fall could trigger lingering persistent slabs or wet slabs. Glide cracks can slowly open as the snowpack creeps downhill, accelerating as with warming. They can also fail unexpectedly, creating full-depth avalanches. Stay off slopes where they are present. Bottom Line Wet loose avalanches are likely with sun on south and west aspects and large wet slab avalanches are increasing in likelihood. Avoid traveling on or under avalanche slopes today. Persistent slab may be present on isolated north aspects. Avoid traveling under large cornices and give them a wide berth on ridges. If roller balls show up, move to shadier aspects or head home. Avoid glide cracks. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Reassess conditions throughout the day and stay alert for signs of instability. Dig pits. Look for red flags. Upcoming Education Events Please visit our education page for an up-to-date list of regional educational events and course offerings. Below are a few select events and opportunities to check out. March 20th | Avalanche Rescue Course | Get more details and register HERE Public Observations Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in a public observation. Please keep sharing what you find and see while out in the backcountry. You can now text us your observations to (406) 219-5566 when you don’t have time to fill out the observations page. Ski and ride safe. The post Avalanche Advisory for March 18, 2021 appeared first on Missoula Avalanche.