Trip Planning for Butte Area

Naturally triggered Avalanche on North North East aspect. Heavy wind loading evident. The slide appeared to be recent, 24 to 48 hours old. 

Tour up Maverick Mountain before they open for the season to check how the snowpack is shaping up in the Pioneers; snowpack representative of backcountry. Got a Christmas eve gift when 6-8 inches of maverick 'white thunder' (+/- 5% density) fell overnight adding 30-50% to the total depth of snow. Dug quick pit on SE aspect 8100 feet and there is about 12-16 inches of low density snow with poles and skis going to ground. Dug a little higher on NE aspect 8200 feet where the snowpack is about twice as deep; about 2 feet plus and has a soft-ish slab in the mid-pack. We performed stability tests. ECTP12 10cm off ground. Softer slab on top of loose faceted snow on top of a hard crust made for propagation in the extended column test results. Surprisingly no collapsing and minimal, very localized cracking right around the skis. Ski quality greatly exceeded expectations!

This is second hand from a reliable source in the Philipsburg ski/snowmobile community. Backcountry skiers on a north aspect near the Powell mine, North Flint Range, were digging a snow pit when the slope avalanched with the crown through their snow pit. Slab avalanche was estimated at 16 inches and slope was wind loaded. Avalanche ran 6-800 feet. Skiers stayed in the snow pit and no one was caught.