Quick report
It's been awhile since we've heard from the northern Whitefish Range, so we arranged a visit to suss out weak layers and settling slabs.
- Observed no recent avalanches, cracking or collapsing.
- The January Junkshow (weak snow) was buried 1 to 2 feet.
- We found buried surface hoar in only one of several test pits (NE, 6500')
- At this location, surface hoar was topped by a stiff slab and produced mixed results in stability tests.
- At Thierrault pass, we found wind textured surfaces but no surface slab.
- There was ~1" of new snow. Despite Wednesday's warmer temperature (32°) and recent sunshine, the snow surface was well preserved and enjoyable! We noted some rollers in steep and rocky terrain.
No surprises today: although buried weak layers are widespread, we found only isolated slopes with stiff slabs capabale of propagating. These areas were lightly wind-affected with slabs failing on buried surface hoar.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 27
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 2
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Overcast skies throughout the day with light westerly winds on exposed slopes at 6500'. Cloud deck stayed at ~6800' throughout the day.
Snowpack
- N aspect at 6000', sheltered
- HS=180cm
- Right side up snowpack
- ECTN23 down 50cm on graupel
- SW aspect at 6500', 25°
- HS=185cm
- January junkshow down 35cm with fragile crusts and facets.
- The snow above this complex was F -4F hardness.
- ECTN8 down 35cm, ECTN13 down 55cm.
- NE aspect at 6500' , wind affected
- HS=220cm
- ECTN15, ECTP15 down 30 cm on buried surface hoar
- ECTN27 and ECTP25 down 50 cm on buried surface hoar (10mm)
- 1F slab between surface hoar layers.