Quick report
Visibility improved throughout the afternoon and many recent, large to very large avalanches, were visible all along the Flathead Crest on typical leeward aspects. Name any peak along the crest in the Essex region and there were crowns present; variable elevations, but certainly in steep, alpine terrain above 6500'. The largest avalanche crown observed was in the unnamed "Sheep Lakes" area of Sheep Creek (East of Felix)...Estimated D3 or D3.5. The width of the slide was impressive.
Weather
- Air Temp
- Below Freezing
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- light
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Snowpack
Lower elevations have a M/F crust that exists to 4700'. Upper elevations were variable with specific terrain features harboring good snow. Wind board (or wind skin, up to 3" thick) was present at most upper elevations along ridgeline making for difficult, variable skiing. Wind sensors in the region were showing moderate to high gusts from the S/W this morning which was validated at elevation, but overall most terrain regardless of aspect was severely wind affected. Sheltered, N aspects at mid elevations harbored dense powder that made for excellent skiing.