Wildcat bowl

Location Name: 
wildcat and tongue mtn
Observation date: 
Saturday, March 12, 2022 - 11:15

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

Tabs

Quick Observation

Toured up into wildcat basin and skied off of tongue mtn:

-Spider basin had no wind effect; there was about an inch of new snow at car with about a foot on top of the ridge

-found wind effect on swan divide, did ski cut prior to dropping in and they sluffed, so decided to ski down to wildcat lake.   Triggered class 2 avalache with second skier.  crown 50 ft about 1 foot deep that ran about 600 feet.  Skier was able to ski out of it and let it pass.

-sought more conservative terrain for the rest of the day but found a lot of wind effect and slab formation wide spread throughout the bowl and on Tongue mtn

-freezing level  stayed at about 5500 feet during our tour

-Significant wind depositing of new snow on north an east aspects of  swan divide and tongue mtn

Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Swan Range - West Side (Flathead Valley access)
Route Description: 

Up spider bowl from Strawberry lake trailhead, into wildcat lake and up and over Tongue Mtn.

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
W
NW
Red Flags: 
Shooting cracks
More than a foot of new snow or heavy snowfall rates (>1"/hr)
Blowing snow
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Blowing Snow: 
Moderate
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, March 12, 2022 - 11:15
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
New/old snow interface
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

triggered by second skier about 5 turns off the ridge

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
skier
Trigger Modifier: 
Accidentally Triggered
Hide Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle: 
40
Aspect: 
East
Starting Elevation: 
above-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Crown Height: 
1 ft
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
600ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
50ft.
Avalanche Location: