Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Problemas de aludes

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Likely

  Tamaño

  2–3

  Avoid traveling in avalanche terrain today. The likelihood of spontaneous large and very large avalanches makes steep terrain and avalanche runouts very dangerous. Heat and radiation are destabilizing hard slabs perched on deeply buried weak layers. These layers are widespread but variable in strength, making it impossible to determine which slopes will fail and when they will fail.

  Multiple large hard slab avalanches occurred the last 3 days in Glacier Park and the Flathead Range and likely failed on buried weak layers above an early February crust. Debris from these slides can run the full length of avalanche paths, making surviving one of these events nearly impossible. 

  

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Very Likely

  Tamaño

  1.5–3

  Prolonged warming and no overnight refreeze are causing an increase in wet avalanche activity. Wet Loose and Wet Slab avalanches will occur on all aspects. 

  Mushy snow that does not support your weight or machine is a sign you could trigger a wet avalanche. Escaping a large wet avalanche is nearly impossible. Be aware of the terrain above you. In the past two days, wet avalanches large enough to bury a person have hit frequently used snowmobile trails. Avoid being on or under steep slopes.

  

• 

  Cornices

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Likely

  Tamaño

  1–2

  Impressive southwest winds built large cornices along alpine ridgelines in late February/early March. Intense warming this weekend may weaken these features. A failing cornice can send large blocks of snow trundling downhill, potentially triggering a destructive avalanche.

  The nature of this problem is highly unpredictable and should warrant your respect. Give these whales a wide berth above and below a corniced ridgeline to reduce your risk. Don’t get surprised by a cornice breaking further back than expected.