Cascadilla Creek

Location Name: 
Cascadilla Creek
Observation date: 
Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 21:30

Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Public

Tabs

Quick Observation

Touring up Cascadilla Creek, we saw evidence of many recent large natural wet loose slides on the southeast aspect of the drainage at and below 5500ft. Around 11am, we witnessed a small natural R1 D1 loose wet avalanche on the same southeast aspect and elevation. After turning around due to shooting cracks on a wind affected NE about 35 degree slope at 4600ft, we stopped to have lunch back in the protected area of the approach trail, and witnessed a solo snowboarder trigger a wind slab, R2 D2, on the recent crust. He rode away unscathed.

Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Route Description: 

Toured up Cascadilla Creek from Rt 2. Once in the main drainage, we toured up the first lower NE face until we were forced to turn around around 4600 ft.

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
NE
E
SE
Red Flags: 
Shooting cracks
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Not observed
Snow line: 
New Snowline 5600 ft.
Sky Cover: 
Partly Cloudy (SCT)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 12:30
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Hard Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
New/old snow interface
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Solo Snowboarder came from down into Cascadilla Creek from Wahoo Creek. The boarder seemed to accidentally trigger the wind slab around 5200ft on a N aspect, and was lucky enough to out run the slide.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
snowboarder
Trigger Modifier: 
Accidentally Triggered
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
North
Starting Elevation: 
5150
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Crown Height: 
1 ft
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
250ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
300ft.
Hide People Involved
Number of people caught: 
1
Number of partial burials: 
0
Number of full burials: 
0
Avalanche Location: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 11:00
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Old snow
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Southeast
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size: 
R1 Very Small
Avalanche Location: