Island Park - Sawtell/Jefferson Peaks

We spotted one shallow but wide breaking wind slab that had released naturally. Otherwise we didn't see any other avalanches or signs of instability. Initially when we looked at the January facets (in a place where I observed them in early February), we found them buried almost 3 ft deep and 1F hardness.  They did not break in an ECT. This corresponded with what we saw throughout the day. The total snow depth in that location was about 8 ft which seemed normal.

Later, we went to an out-of-the-way place and found a much shallower snowpack, 4.75 ft deep. The January facets were only buried 20 in deep and F+ hardness. They produced an ECTP19.

So what?  - The January facets were buried by snow on Feb 8/9th and then by a lot of snow Feb 16-19th. That thick blanket of snow has helped them get stronger, denser, and harder. I think that is the case on many slopes. HOWEVER, its not the case on all slopes. Steep rocky areas, weird wind affected areas with less overall snow, or slopes that previously avalanches will have a thinner overall snowpack and weak Jan facets. That makes triggering a persistent slab avalanche possible. Steep slopes where you would expect a deep uniform snowpack are less likely places to trigger a persistent slab avalanche. It will take a unique place to easily get a persistent slab avalanche were the snowpack is thinner and weaker but loaded winds this weekend.

Now what? The main concern will be strong winds this weekend. The strongest winds may stay further north in Montana and not be an issue. IF this area does get strong winds, that will keep the avalanche danger elevated at the highest elevations for wind slabs. The persistent slab problem will be getting less likely with each passing day. It would take a lot of snow (loading and weight) to reactivate the Jan facets on many slopes. Ride slopes where you expect to find a uniform and deep snowpack. 

Saw one relatively fresh wind slab (w/in the last 24 hours). Otherwise saw no other avalanches, no collapsing, no cracking.