Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Today will be a good day to get up high into the mountains. Recent observations continue to describe generally stable avalanche conditions. If your travels take you to upper rigdelines, steer around small slabs of drifted snow. Practice safe travel protocols by riding one at a time in steep terrain. 

Recent observations paint a similar portrait to the past week. Riders are finding no signs of instability, with 1 to 3 inches of recent snow above 6000 feet. Observers noted active wind transport at the highest ridgelines. With relatively benign weather today, I will expect to see similar reports.

Keep an eye on surface conditions and steer around small drifts at upper elevations. These will be more common in the alpine. Slightly warmer temperatures and a chance for sun may cause a few rollerballs or point releases on south-facing aspects. If this occurs, slides will be small due to the minimal amount of recent snow. Cloud cover will increase throughout the day, making this less likely to occur. 

A more active weather pattern will enter the forecast region on Thursday. Snowfall will start as flurries on Thursday, and precipitation rates will slowly increase over the weekend. An arctic air mass will enter the region on Saturday, making it difficult to predict how much snow will fall in the mountains. In some cases, arctics can enhance snowfall, and in other cases, it can turn the snow faucet off. Thankfully, this arctic air mass will only bring temperatures down into the teens. An active weather pattern will continue for the foreseeable future.

With this active weather pattern shift, I am beginning to think about shifting my mindset from “open season” to “stepping back.” This shift will happen when 8 or more inches of new snow stacks up. We’ve had nearly free reign in the hills for the greater part of three weeks. Changing avalanche conditions will be inevitable with a more active weather pattern. Stay tuned as information becomes more clear.