West Central Montana Avalanche Center

Dug low on slope to look at damp to wet snow transition below where wind was affecting and cooling snow. All avalanche activity today was below 7200'. Snow was unsupportable and boot pen was full leg. Definitely a strange snowpack with mid pack temps still frigid from record cold temps this week.

Dug sheltered area to isolate snowpit problems to persistent weak layers without having wind loading in the pit area.

No stability tests today. Cracking and collapses on new snow interface while travelling were enough to show propagation and avalanche potential for new snow

The goal for today was to get more info on the buried MF/facet combo in southern Bitterroot. Found reactive interface on multiple ECTs. Multiple potential future weak layers on south and west aspects in area

Observations taken in an area closed to public traffic Dec 1 - March 15 for Winter wildlife protection.