southern GNP, 6996'

Traveled to southern Glacier National Park for my final field day of the season.

• We enjoyed mostly sunny skies, good visibility, and calm winds. No recent avalanche activity was observed. No cracking, collapses, or other signs of instability.
• On solar aspects, there were 4 to 6 inches of new snow resting above a faceting crust, up to just under 7000 feet. The surface snow exposed to the sun was becoming moist at all elevations by early afternoon.
• Shaded aspects were strikingly cold, as we observed our sweaty hats freeze while digging our north-facing snow pit.
• We skied a northern aspect, that had 12 inches of dry soft snow which transitioned to moist snow about 5700 feet. No signs of instability while skiing.
• In both snow pits, the new snow was unconsolidated and we did not get propagating results. We dug on a sunny, east-facing slope and a shaded north-facing slope around 6800 feet. ECTX and no fracture in our compression test.
• We observed one glide crack opening on a steep, southeasterly slope at upper elevations. 

 

Skier triggered roller balls on sunny aspects.

Snowpit #1 East aspect @ 6800 feet. HS: 186. 15 cm new snow above faceting melt-freeze crust

Snowpit #2 North aspect @6800 feet. HS: 195. 28 cm new snow above 1F snow. ECTX, no fracture in CT test.

• No propagation, but 80 cm below the surface-stout block 20 cm of P hard snow resting above a 20 cm layer of weak facets.