Skyland

We headed towards the Continential Divide in hopes of better visibility and less rain to see recent avalanche activity. While we were impressed with Flathead's largest rollerball (see pic), watching numerous natural avalanches on Slippery Bill Mtn stole the show!

• Evidence of rollers were evident on all aspects and elevations from last night's rain. Recent crowns were visible on leeward slopes near the ridgeline of Slippery Bill. Natural avalanche activity increased through the day from wet sluffs transitioning to wet loose avalanches, which stepped down to produce large slab avalanches in steep terrain. Brief sprints of solar radiation had the greatest influence on immediate activity.
• No blowing snow at mid elevations and no wind effect, though we encountered strong gusts and lots of branches and tree debris. Blowing snow on peaks and some higher elevation ridglines. 
• Suspected rainline was at 6800' due to snow on trees and where snow was being transported. Last night's rain saturated snow down 15" at mid-elevations.

We stuck to low angle terrain today, while staying away from overhead hazards as we traveled today.

• 6400', NE aspect, sheltered location
  • HS=220cm
  • Moist snow down 40cm with various storm interfaces visible, but no notable hardness changes or crusts.
• 5400', W aspect
  • Adjacent to the road at a location visited in mid-February and early March.
  • HS=90cm
  • CT13 and CT14 RP down ~15cm in very moist snow. As test continued, upper snowpack smushed onto the harder crust.
  • Moist snow down 20cm with pooling water above a 20cm thick melt-freeze crust (P). Base of snowpack was large rounding grains still with traces of striations.