Doris

Today we went up to Blaine Mountain in the northern Swan range. This was our first trip into the northern end of this forecast region. 

• Recent avalanche activity essentially went wall to wall. Most steep slopes above 6500 ft went naturally. 
• Avalanche size ranged from small (D1) to large (D2).
• Observed no signs of instability, though we didn't push it onto many steep slopes. Ski cut a few test slopes with no cracking and no triggered avalanches.
• We found the weak layer buried 12/7 intact in this drainage and it propagated in snowpit tests. I suspect the larger slide off Blaine failed at this interface given the deeper crown.
• A zipper crust extends up to roughly 7000 feet. 

Ill add we were both fairly surprised to see the 12/7 week layer in tact and reactive in snow pits given what's been observed in other parts of the range. 

Observed no signs of instability. Ski cut a few steep and short test slopes with no results.

Snowpit at 6600 ft on northeast aspect:

ECTP1 down 8 inches. This failed at the new/old snow interface. 
ECTP20 down 16 inches. This failed at the 12/7 interface. We observed near-surface facets at this interface.