Observation Date: 02/20/2012

Route/Location:
Twin lakes/Moose Creek: Central Bitterroots

Weather:
Overcast lightly snowing

Wind:
Light

New Snow: 6-12″

Avalanche Activity:
Elevation: 7200
AspectThe compass direction a slope faces i.e. North, South, East, West.: Norteast East
Slope: 40
Description: 30 cm crown soft slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers., 7.7 m across 4.6 m down

It was 5:00 with a heavy cloud layer that significantly limiting our visibility for the final run down to the sleds parked at Twin Lakes. We accidently started down the Northly aspectThe compass direction a slope faces i.e. North, South, East, West. of the ridge above Moosecreek rather than the Southeast aspectThe compass direction a slope faces i.e. North, South, East, West. we had traveled up. Quickly realizing our mistake we began a traverse across a low 30’s degree slope. As I preceded the chutes and cliff bands above Moosecreek came into view below me and I could see ahead the slope aspectThe compass direction a slope faces i.e. North, South, East, West. was increasing and bench was beginning to form above me. I stopped directly above a clump of firs to reassess the situation. The slope turned into a chute several feet in front of me. I looked over my shoulder to spot the rest of my group and formulate a retreat, as I began to back up further into the trees in order to turn around and put my skins on a crackThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crack within the snowpack. shot forward and slowly pulled out a piece of the chute several feet in front of me. We traversed back and up to the bench and skied down to the lake.

Other Comments:
Twin lakes/Moose Creek: Central Bitterroots
Elevation: 6800
AspectThe compass direction a slope faces i.e. North, South, East, West.: Southeast
Slope: 32
Test: ECT 11 at 25 cm no propagationThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crackThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crack within the snowpack. within the snowpack. Q 2 new snow layerA snowpack stratum differentiated from others by weather, metamorphism, or other processes.
ECT 22 at 45 cm no propagationThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crackThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crack within the snowpack. within the snowpack. Q2 failing on a buried crustA crust is a hard layer of snow where liquid water has refrozen into grain fabric. Crusts usually result from sun, rain or wind. layer
ECT 28 at 65 cm no propagationThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crackThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crack within the snowpack. within the snowpack. Q2 failing on a 2nd buried crustA crust is a hard layer of snow where liquid water has refrozen into grain fabric. Crusts usually result from sun, rain or wind. layer

2nd pit
Elevation: 7800
AspectThe compass direction a slope faces i.e. North, South, East, West.: Northeast
Slope: 26
Test: ECT 11 at 30 cm no propagationThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crackThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crack within the snowpack. within the snowpack. Q 2 new snow layerA snowpack stratum differentiated from others by weather, metamorphism, or other processes.
ECT 22 at 50 cm no propagationThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crackThe spreading of a fractureThe physical separation of the slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. from the bed surface and surrounding snow during the initiation of a slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. avalanche. or crack within the snowpack. within the snowpack. Q2 failing on a buried crustA crust is a hard layer of snow where liquid water has refrozen into grain fabric. Crusts usually result from sun, rain or wind. layer

Similar test results and snow reactions as in the Lost horse area the day before, similar ski penetration but not crustA crust is a hard layer of snow where liquid water has refrozen into grain fabric. Crusts usually result from sun, rain or wind. layer noted under skis, little to no surface sluffA Loose Snow AvalancheA Loose Snow Avalanche or Sluff. or Sluff. observed

Observer: Tim Buhl