West Central Montana Avalanche Center

Same location as 2020219LostTrailBC. Warming event occuring, as temps near/exceed feezing for the first time in weeks. However, no cracking or whomphing or obvious signs of weakness as snowpack gets stressed by warming.

Moderate winds on ridgelines, but light at pit location, where minimal wind loading has occured. New snow not bonding well; layer of concern 90cms down is strengthening, as deternined in PST.

Difficult travel in areas not compacted by skiers or riders

Area of observations is closed to public traffic December 1-March 15 for Winter wildlife protection

The area had been alternately loaded and scoured. Subject to N winds most recently and -25ºC temps. Large striated crystals 40cm down is very unusual in my experience, but this is what we found.

Targerting 210113 layer around 70cms deep in snowpack on ENE aspect. PST SF45/100 down 70cms 210113. This layer had multiple natural avalanches on it last Saturday 210206 where windloaded and above 38 degrees.

15cms overnight; 75cms settled from past 5 days. The deep new snow is insulating lowest weak layer (@176cm), so it is hard to trigger this layer of most concern.