Observation Date: 01/02/2012

Route/Location:
Avalanche path area. We skinned up a lower angle ridge line up to 7100′ and dug 1 pit. Skinned up ridge line to 8100′. Skied several of the east and southeast facing paths.

Weather:
Morning was calm and 22 degrees, mid-day brought much warmer temps and intense sun.

Wind:
It was not windy, but had been in days previous. Lots of snow was scoured off of west facing slopes and deposited on the open, east aspects that provide good skiing.

New Snow: 12+”

Snow DensityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low densityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low density (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%). (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%).: Low

Avalanche Activity:
We did not experience any settling or collapsingWhumpf has actually been adopted as a technical avalanche term to describe the sound of a collapsing snowpack when you cross the snow. A sign of instability. of the snow pack today. (We had experienced some whoomping at 6600′ in the same area on Dec. 31st and called it a day.) We dug a pit at 7100′ on a 33 degree SE facing slope in 145cm of snow. The new snow was unconsolidated, fist densityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low densityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low density (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%). (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%). and 50cm deep (finger densityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low densityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low density (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%). (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%). below). It failed CT 18 Q2 with low energy. As temperatures warmed today, the upper layer of snow became very wet and heavy. We did not witness any signs of instability today.

Other Comments:
I know this area is outside the advisory area, but Missoula folks frequent it. Thought I’d pass on what we observed.

Observer: Joshua Phillips